Special Counsel Jack Smith has made a big move by enlisting Michael R. Dreeben, a distinguished Supreme Court attorney, for his legal proceedings against former President Donald Trump.
100 cases at the Supreme Court
Dreeben’s expertise, particularly in criminal law, is impressive. As per Law360, he is one of only seven attorneys to have presented arguments in over 100 Supreme Court cases. His expertise is expected to be crucial in the Trump federal indictments.
Dreeben Counsels Smith in Trump’s Immunity Case Petition
Dreeben was appointed as a counsel by Smith for two petitions related to Donald Trump’s presidential immunity case, one filed on December 11 with the Supreme Court and another on December 30 with the Washington, D.C. Court of Appeals.
Dreeben’s Career in Criminal Law
Dreeben’s background includes over thirty years at the U.S. Solicitor General’s office, focusing on criminal law. In 2020, Dreeben joined the law firm O’Melveny & Myers, where he continued to excel in Supreme Court practice.
9-0 Victory in Supreme Court
In a 2022 case in the Supreme Court, he achieved a resounding 9-0 victory, successfully convincing the justices to overturn the conviction of a New York developer charged with wire fraud.
High Praise from Legal Experts
As a former Justice Department official, Mary McCord praised Dreeben as “cerebral, thoughtful, and brilliant.”
A Seasoned Counselor in Trump-Related Cases
This isn’t Dreeben’s first engagement in legal battles involving Trump. He previously served as counselor to Robert Mueller during the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, offering critical legal advice.
Dreeben’s First Supreme Court Case Opposing Chief Justice Roberts
Dreeben’s first Supreme Court case involved medical fraud, with the current Supreme Court Chief Justice, John Roberts, representing the opposing party.
Trump’s Three Attorneys
In contrast to Smith, Donald Trump has enlisted three attorneys from Missouri for his immunity case: D. John Sauer, Will Scharf, and Michael Talent.
Attorneys’ Limited Supreme Court Experience
Unlike Dreeben, these attorneys are not regulars in the Supreme Court advocacy circle. Sauer, the most experienced in this trio, has argued a single case at the Supreme Court.
Sauer, Former Solicitor General
Sauer has previously served as Missouri’s solicitor general and gained attention for leading lawsuits against the Biden administration, including a high-profile case involving social media censorship.
Scharf’s Involvement in Supreme Court Confirmations
Scharf, a Harvard Law graduate, has worked as a federal prosecutor and played roles in the confirmation of Supreme Court Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.
Talent Former Member of the Trump Administration
Talent, the third team member, holds a degree from Stanford Law and served as a staff member on the National Security Council towards the end of the Trump administration.
Trump Campaign Spokesperson Lauds Legal Team
Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for the Trump campaign, commended the team as exceptionally qualified and experienced.
Cheung’s Critique of Jack Smith and the Legal Team
Cheung said, “Deranged Jack Smith and his team have been so badly outmatched by President Trump’s powerhouse attorneys that ‘Deranged’ had to beg a tainted Democrat operative, who helped engineer the exposed Mueller hoax, to come to try and save them. That pathetic attempt will fail.”
Four Counts in Alleged 2020 Election Interference
Trump faces four counts relating to his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
Trump’s trail to Commence in March. With the trial set to commence in March, Trump, who pleaded not guilty, describes the charges as part of a political witch hunt. His legal team is currently preparing for the upcoming proceedings.
The Battle for Presidential Immunity
In December, Judge Tanya Chutkan, presiding over Trump’s election interference trial, denied his request for presidential immunity. Trump is challenging this decision by appealing to the Washington, D.C. Court of Appeals.
Smith attempted to Expedite Trump’s Immunity
With Dreeben as his advisor, Smith attempted to circumvent the appeal process by requesting a Supreme Court ruling on Trump’s presidential immunity. However, on December 23, the Supreme Court rejected Smith’s plea to expedite the case.
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