Why Trump’s Lawyers Perform So Poorly
Spoiler: It’s (often) not entirely their own fault
Donald J. Trump and his company are no strangers to the courtroom. He’s sued others countless times. He’s been sued countless times. He and his organization have also been criminally charged and hit with regulatory actions more times than he’s had hot meals.
Also, Trump’s fame, uncanny ability to fundraise, and his own wealth grant him a virtually bottomless war chest he can use to pay a small army of lawyers to defend him in the many criminal and civil cases currently on his personal docket.
Despite those resources, his win-loss record in court is decidedly mixed, with the losses coming more frequently than wins recently. And the “victories” lately have been largely tactical, rather than substantive, as with the Supreme Court’s slow-walking of his federal election interference case.
This isn’t how it’s “supposed” to work. It’s common to hear from members of the general public that the rich and powerful receive preferential treatment from the courts and are able to effectively buy the outcomes they seek. So why, then, is Trump running repeatedly into legal brick walls despite spending a literal fortune on a handpicked legal team?
