The Georgia election interference trial of former President Donald Trump should be televised because the public has both an "interest" and a "right" to see the courtroom proceedings, former New Jersey Superior Court Judge Andrew Napolitano told Newsmax on Monday.
During an interview on "Wake Up America," Napolitano noted he was the first judge in New Jersey to permit cameras in the courtroom.
"In those days, they looked like the cameras you're looking into," he told host Rob Finnerty. "Today, they're very, very tiny. They're about the size of half the size of a mobile device. You don't even see them, and you forget that they're there."
"The public has an interest in knowing what is going on and a right to see what's going on," Napolitano said about accusations that Trump illegally interfered with the 2020 election.
The judge noted, however, "the federal courts disagree with me. You're not going to see cameras in the federal courts."
According to Napolitano, "every time the Supreme Court looks at this issue, it's nine to nothing against cameras."
"There are 19 defendants. That's 40 lawyers," he said. "That's trying this case in a gymnasium. I don't know if that [Georgia] courthouse has a courtroom big enough."
The 98-page Aug. 15 indictment against Trump includes a total of 41 counts alleging racketeering, conspiracy, impersonating a public officer, conspiracy to commit forgery, and perjury, among others.
All 19 defendants named in the indictment are charged with violating the Georgia racketeer-influenced and corrupt organizations (RICO) statute designed to battle organized crime like the mafia.
Pressed on what role the Supreme Court might play in the Georgia case, Napolitano replied "none."
"The Supreme Court of the United States does not get involved in micro managing federal trials and it doesn't have jurisdiction to micromanage state trials," he said.
The former judge also joked that a mug shot to be taken of the former president in Georgia when he is arraigned is pointless, but required.
"The U.S. Marshals in Florida and in [Washington] D.C. came to the same conclusion you and I did," the judge said of Trump. "He is the best known human being on the planet. There's no reason to have to take the picture.
"The sheriff [and] Fulton County say, 'I have rules, and there's no exceptions to the rules, and I'll get in trouble if I don't follow the rules.' So, I guess they are going to take the picture, but knowing the president as I do, and as you do, you'll see that mug shot on T-shirts that he'll be selling for a profit."
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Fran Beyer ✉
Fran Beyer is a writer with Newsmax and covers national politics.
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