The judge presiding over former President Donald Trump’s New York civil fraud trial made headlines last month by imposing a gag order on the defendant.  

Yet in a stunning move, that gag order came to an end this week after an appeals court judge refused to uphold it. 

Judge says order is an impermissible violation of Trump's right to speak

As Fox News reported, Judge David Friedman moved on Thursday to stay the gag order that was put in place by Judge Arthur Engoron.

In his decision, Friedman argued that Engoron's order ran afoul of Trump's First Amendment right to freedom of speech.

The judge also noted how gag orders are usually reserved for criminal trials in which there is a concern that jurors may be improperly swayed. 

Trump reacted to Friedman's ruling by lashing out at Engoron and his court clerk in a series of angry posts on Truth Social.

Trump says gag order was "a disgrace"

"Judge Arthur Engoron has just been overturned (stayed!) by the New York State Appellate Division (Appeals Court), for the 4th TIME (on the same case!)," Fox News quoted Trump as stating.

"His Ridiculous and Unconstitutional Gag Order, not allowing me to defend myself against him and his politically biased and out of control, Trump Hating Clerk, who is sinking him and his Court to new levels of LOW, is a disgrace," he declared.

"They are defending the Worst and Least Respected Attorney General in the United States, Letitia James, who is a Worldwide disgrace, as is her illegal Witch Hunt against me," Trump continued.

"The Radical and Unprecedented actions of Judge Engoron will keep BUSINESSES and JOBS forever out of New York State," the former president went on to add. 

Judge refuses to remove Trump from the ballot

That wasn't Trump's only legal victory this week, as on Friday a federal judge ruled that he cannot be removed from Colorado's presidential ballot.

According to Fox News, U.S. District Court Judge Sarah B. Wallace wrote, "The court orders the Secretary of State to place Donald J. Trump on the presidential primary ballot when it certifies the ballot on January 5, 2024."

Wallace presided over a lawsuit that alleged that Trump was precluded from running for president again by the 14th Amendment's Insurrection Clause.

Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said the attempt to remove Trump from the ballot "represents the most cynical and blatant political attempts to interfere with the upcoming presidential election by desperate Democrats who know Crooked Joe Biden is a failed president on the fast track to defeat."