Judge Tanya Chutkan has attempted to exercise tight control over former President Donald Trump’s criminal trial in Washington, D.C.

However, the latest action by Trump’s defense team suggests that Chutkan might as well give up on that effort.

Trump's attorneys appeal Chutkan's refusal to grant a stay in proceedings

According to Newsweek, lawyers working for the former president moved on Thursday for an "automatic stay" in their client's case. 

At issue is a decision by Chutkan last week in which the judge said that Trump’s prosecution is not barred by either presidential immunity or double jeopardy. 

"Whatever immunities a sitting president may enjoy, the United States has only one chief executive at a time, and that position does not confer a lifelong 'get-out-of-jail-free' pass," Newsweek quoted Chutkan as stating.

"Former presidents enjoy no special conditions on their federal criminal liability," the Obama-appointed judge went on to insist. 

"Defendant may be subject to federal investigation, indictment, prosecution, conviction and punishment for any criminal acts undertaken while in office," she added.

"All current deadlines must be held in abeyance"

Trump’s lawyers filed a motion on Thursday seeking an "automatic stay of all district court proceedings in this case pending the final resolution of his recently filed appeal."

It goes on to state that Trump's team will disregard "pretrial motions, defense disclosures relating to trial defenses and evidence, CIPA hearings, and jury selection" unless Chutkan rules otherwise.

"All current deadlines must be held in abeyance until, at minimum, this motion is resolved," the document went on to insist.

"President Trump will proceed based on that understanding and the authorities set forth herein absent further order of the Court," it added.

Left-wing critics mock motion

However, the motion was met with derision from some of the former president’s critics, including law professor and left-wing commentator Joyce Vance.

“Trump has moved to stop any further proceedings in his DC prosecution while he appeals Judge Chutkan's rulings against him,” she said in a post on the social media platform previously known as Twitter.

Trump has moved to stop any further proceedings in his DC prosecution while he appeals Judge Chutkan's rulings against him. My favorite bit is where his lawyers say they'll assume everything is stayed unless they hear back to the contrary. Oh to be the judge who gets to respond! pic.twitter.com/L0Eji1IT0S

— Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) December 7, 2023

“My favorite bit is where his lawyers say they'll assume everything is stayed unless they hear back to the contrary. Oh to be the judge who gets to respond!” she remarked.