Nick Akerman, a former Watergate prosecutor, has raised concerns about potential transparency issues in upcoming trials involving former President Donald Trump, as reported by Raw Story on Tuesday, February 13, 2024.
In a Washington Post opinion piece, Akerman suggests a solution by advocating for the release of verbatim transcripts of trial proceedings. He emphasizes the role of transcripts in providing a non-political and non-partisan glimpse into legal processes.
While judges in federal trials are likely to reject the presence of cameras in the courtroom, Akerman argues that the absence of visual documentation does not mean a lack of transparency. Verbatim transcripts, meticulously recorded by court reporters, serve as accurate and contemporaneous records capturing every word spoken by witnesses, lawyers, and the judge.
More Read
These transcripts offer a comprehensive account of the proceedings, used extensively by trial lawyers for cross-examination, final summation arguments, and potential appeals. Akerman contends that releasing these transcripts to the public would provide valuable insights into the legal process, offering a clear and unfiltered perspective.
He criticizes the current reliance on media coverage, highlighting instances where live-tweeting and highlights fail to capture the full complexity of a trial. Akerman uses examples such as the E. Jean Carroll defamation and sexual assault civil trial and the Trump Organization’s fraud trial, expressing concerns about transparency and the public’s incomplete understanding of legal proceedings.
In an ironic twist, Akerman points out that, despite concerns about transparency, Trump’s legal team recognized the value of public release of transcripts in a fraud trial involving the Trump Organization. They e-filed complete daily transcripts covering Trump’s defense on the case’s public docket sheet in support of a final motion to dismiss the case.
Akerman’s proposal for the release of verbatim transcripts aims to enhance transparency in high-profile trials, allowing the public to access an accurate and comprehensive record of legal proceedings.
