Presiding over President Trump’s first court appearance on federal criminal charges will be Jonathan Goodman, a magistrate judge who is not expected to remain involved in the case.
Magistrate judges often handle the routine, procedural aspects of court cases, like the initial appearance on Tuesday by Mr. Trump and his co-defendant, Walt Nauta, in Miami federal court. The trial will be overseen by Judge Aileen M. Cannon, a Trump appointee who has issued favorable rulings to Mr. Trump in the past and was randomly assigned to the case.
In court papers released on Monday in response to a request by news media outlets to photograph and record the proceedings, Judge Goodman made clear his involvement would be limited.
“I am handling tomorrow’s first appearance and arraignment only because of my status as duty magistrate judge in the Miami division of this court,” he wrote. “I am not the magistrate judge paired with United States District Judge Aileen M. Cannon, and it is highly unlikely that I will be asked to remain involved.”
