Judge Engoron Reflects on Trump’s Fraud Trial and Judicial Security Concerns
Justice Arthur Engoron was walking his dog early in the morning on January 11, 2024, when he noticed a large number of police lights approaching his New York home. One of the officers informed him, “There’s been a credible bomb threat against your house. Is there anybody else in the house?” Engoron confirmed that his wife and children were inside. He quickly alerted them, and they left in the cold winter air. Despite this, Engoron was in his courtroom a few hours later, overseeing a high-profile civil fraud trial involving Donald Trump.
The trial was filled with drama, frequent shouting, many objections, and campaign antics. As a former president, Trump went against the judge’s instructions by delivering his own closing argument. Now retired, Engoron recently gave his first on-camera interview with CBS News, reflecting on his career and the public discourse surrounding judges today. This environment has led the U.S. Marshals Service to request more funds from Congress for federal judicial security due to increased threats.
“There will be some people who will not want to become judges because of these threats,” Engoron commented. “But those people probably shouldn’t be judges anyway.” Engoron revealed that the bomb threat was not the first. He faced a barrage of antisemitic and homophobic taunts, received an envelope with white powder, and still receives harassing phone calls. Recently, someone insulted him at his gym.
Judges should remember the primary rule: We cannot fight back. That comes with the territory, regardless of what we’re called.
During the trial, Trump and his supporters labeled Engoron with names like “wack job,” “lunatic,” and “corrupt.” Although Engoron remained silent on these attacks, he took action when Trump targeted his staff. Following Trump’s repeated comments and posts about his law clerk, Engoron ordered a court officer to escort the clerk. He emphasized, “Law clerks are invaluable, and we must protect them because they can’t protect themselves as well as we can.” Engoron made it clear that such actions didn’t influence his rulings.
Engoron imposed a gag order on Trump, a measure later used in two criminal cases against him. At 77, Engoron retired due to mandatory retirement rules, noting he’d never before needed to stop a defendant from targeting his staff.
Reflecting on the trial’s impact, Engoron noted, “Some called me the most famous judge in America for a time.” He recounted being acknowledged by strangers, including a ticket-taker on the Long Island Railroad and even by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.
Now a senior counsel at Phillips Nizer LLP in Manhattan, Engoron misses being a judge. “Being a judge is the greatest job,” he said. “You help society, set precedents, and earn respect. The honor people showed when they called me ‘Your Honor’ was remarkable.”
Engoron’s handling of the trial faced criticism. Some allies of Trump accused him of pandering to the media. New York Rep. Elise Stefanik critiqued him in a letter, accusing him of smiling and posing for cameras in court. He dismisses these claims as “silly.” Engoron explained, “I hurried to the bench because people were waiting, showing enthusiasm. Is that hot-dogging?”
Despite the theatrical courtroom exchanges, Engoron’s serious written opinions underscored the fraud. He wrote that the evidence “leaps off the page and shocks the conscience.” Engoron had found Trump and several executives liable for fraud even before the trial began. Upon its conclusion, he ordered a monetary sanction, initially $350 million, which increased to over $500 million with interest. While an appeals court annulled the financial penalty, it upheld the fraud finding. Both parties are appealing, with Trump’s team seeking to dismiss the case entirely, while the state aims to restore the financial penalties.
Engoron now watches the appeals process unfold with confidence in his decision. “I had my moments of glory. I aimed for fairness in my rulings. The end result was positive, and I’m grateful for the chance,” Engoron concluded.