Hello, everybody! Are you ready for a brief legal lesson today? Let’s revisit a crucial piece of advice I received on my initial day at law school: “Don’t upset the judge.” It appears to be straightforward, right? Why would you irritate the individual who holds your destiny in their hands? Advocating for your client does not necessitate upsetting the individual in the black robe—the one with the gavel and the authority to rule on your case.

This advice seems straightforward, but it appears that Special Counsel Jack Smith’s prosecution team may have overlooked it while presenting their arguments to Judge Aileen Cannon in the classified documents case involving former President Donald Trump. This was no ordinary hearing – Judge Cannon scheduled a series of hearings to address some significant issues in this case.

The court heard arguments on Friday about whether Smith’s appointment violated the Appointments Clause. On Monday, they debated the same issue, but this time in the context of the Appropriations Clause. And later in the day? They were back in court, discussing whether a gag order should be imposed on Trump.

Picture this: If the gag order is approved, it would limit what the former president can say, especially about the FBI’s raid on his Mar-a-Lago property. The prosecution team, led by Smith, doesn’t want Trump to exacerbate the situation by commenting on the FBI’s use of force during the raid. They argue that Trump’s words could potentially endanger law enforcement officers.

The courtroom, however, experienced a moment of drama when prosecutor David Harbach’s argument became too impassioned for Judge Aileen Cannon’s taste. While arguing for the gag order, Harbach was reprimanded by the judge for his tone. She even suggested that if Harbach couldn’t maintain courtroom decorum, perhaps one of his colleagues could take his place.

This is not the first time the prosecution team has caused tension in this case. Judge Cannon has consistently shown hesitation about imposing a gag order on Trump. With additional hearings coming up, including one concerning an alleged unlawful raid at Mar-a-Lago and a possible violation of attorney-client privilege, the stakes are high.

So, don’t forget the golden rule: Don’t anger the judge. It seems simple, yet as we’ve seen, even experienced legal professionals can overlook it. But then again, who am I to judge? Keep an eye out, folks! This case has many more layers to explore, and I’m excited to delve into it with you.