Alina Habba "can't even do things that you learn in evidence class," says CNN legal analyst Elie Honig.

Alina Habba “can’t even do things that you learn in evidence class,” says CNN legal analyst Elie Honig

A former White House attorney for Donald Trump said Wednesday he’s “not surprised” the former president is looking for new representation for his appeal of the defamation trial verdict, calling out Trump lawyer Alina Habba’s management of the case. Trump announced late Tuesday that he was seeking new counsel for his appeal of the $83.3 million verdict in the defamation lawsuit brought by writer E. Jean Carroll. Habba, who served as Trump’s lead attorney and frequently clashed with the presiding judge throughout the trial, handled the case “in the mafia way,” Ty Cobb told CNN Wednesday, according to HuffPost.

“She’s done his bidding. She’s articulated his political narrative of victimization and unfairness in the judicial system and made some outlandish claims, including the conflict claims,” Cobb continued. "And she lost, so she’s a loser. I’m not surprised that Trump is looking for appellate representation.”

  • reddig33@lemmy.world
    123·
    11 months ago

    I doubt he will replace her with anyone more competent. He can’t afford anyone good, has a poor track record of picking lawyers, and he’s burned too many bridges without the cash to pay for it.

    • oDDmON@lemmy.world
      55·
      11 months ago

      He’s also stiffed multitudes of his previous service providers and contractors, IIRC.

    • sab@kbin.social
      40·
      11 months ago

      Also his idea of “good” is someone who doesn’t contradict him. He wants to run the case his way, and no reasonably intelligent lawyer will ever agree to that as it will make them look like idiots and the case is a sure loss.

      • PilferJynx@lemmy.world
        17·
        11 months ago

        You’d have to be paid enough up front to destroy your career. I don’t think he has the money for that.

        • Pretzilla@lemmy.world
          7·
          11 months ago

          Pretty key feature for her predictable career pivot to right wingnut TV legal commentator in 3, 2, 1…

      • shyguyblue@lemmy.worldEnglish
        9·
        11 months ago

        The attorney for the plaintiff even said her entire demeanor changed when trump was out of the room. He wants loyalty, competence optional.

      • Billiam@lemmy.world
        8·
        11 months ago

        Guess we can assume Alina Habba isn’t “reasonably intelligent” then cause… man, does she look like an idiot.

      • modeler@lemmy.world
        6·
        11 months ago

        Well that’s obviously true! Trump’s one of the greatest legal minds ever, so any ordinary lawyer should simply recognise this and follow Trump’s lead. Anything else means you’re a dumb lawyer /s

      • lgstarn@kbin.social
        6·
        11 months ago

        That’s kind of a cool idea, but depending on where you are this is illegal and/or unethical as lawyers have a fiduciary duty to represent their client’s best interest.

        https://www.stimmel-law.com/en/articles/fiduciary-duty

        A lawyer owes a fiduciary duty to a client. The lawyer must at all times act in the best interest of the client and must make full disclosure of any economic or other interest that the lawyer has that might conflict with the interest of the client. The lawyer is obligated to take all actions and give all advice that will benefit the client and to use professional skill and energy to protect the client’s interests. Should a conflict of interest arise (for example, the lawyer discovers that one client wishes to hire him to sue another one of his clients) the lawyer must immediately make full disclosure of such conflict and take steps to immediately end the conflict regardless of the personal cost to the lawyer.

    • FuglyDuck@lemmy.worldEnglish
      4·
      11 months ago

      I’m waiting for the court appointed attorneys to show up. at least for the criminal trials.