Two federal judges in south Florida reportedly advised District Judge Aileen Cannon to consider stepping down from overseeing the criminal prosecution of former President Donald Trump. The judges, including the district's chief judge Cecilia M. Altonaga, recommended that Cannon recuse herself from the case involving classified documents brought by special counsel Jack Smith. Despite the suggestions, Cannon continues to preside over the case, which has faced numerous delays and is yet to be scheduled for trial.
Altonaga's chambers declined to comment on the matter, and the second judge who also contacted Cannon remains unidentified. When Cannon was initially assigned the high-profile case, she had already faced criticism for her handling of a lawsuit filed by Trump related to the FBI's search of his Mar-a-Lago residence in 2022.
Legal scholars have raised concerns about Cannon's approach to the case, noting that she has been accused of slowing down the proceedings significantly. Critics claim that the judge allows irrelevant legal matters to overshadow core issues, such as a motion by Trump to challenge Smith's appointment as special counsel.
Attorneys who have appeared before Cannon have described her strict stance on technical filing errors and a lack of efficiency in managing the case docket. This has led to prolonged delays in resolving pretrial disputes that would typically be addressed promptly by other judges.
