Judge T. S. Ellis is known as a colorful judge who is not afraid to interrupt prosecutors, interrogate witnesses and even poke fun at himself along the way. Here are some of Ellis’ most memorable quotes from the court proceedings of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort:
Week 4
Reflecting on his reputation and role in the trial: « My grandson called and said, ‘Are you really’ — well, we all take brick paths in life and some we deserve. And I didn’t read all of them. I do know that I’ll be careful about Caesar in my own Rome in the future, but be assured that I always knew that my Rome was very small. And even within that Rome, I was far less supreme than Caesar. But like some people, I like metaphors and similes from literature. They’re not as familiar to many people as they are to me. »
Instructions to jurors when they were unable to reach a consensus: « You should not surrender your honest conviction as to the weight or effect of evidence solely because of the opinion of other jurors or for the mere purpose of returning a verdict. »
On the jurors’ role as judges: « You are not partisans. You are judges, judges of the facts. And your sole interest here is to seek the truth from the evidence in the case. You’re the exclusive judges of the credibility of all the witnesses and of the weight and effect of all the evidence. »
On both legal teams’ enthusiasm in representing their clients: « I think the Government and Mr. Manafort received very effective and zealous representation from their counsel. Both sides were zealously and effectively represented. And that isn’t a statement I can make as often as I’d like. »
Week 3
On the media’s request to unseal parts of the trial that are currently secret: « A thirsty press is essential in a free country. »
On defending his decision to keep jurors’ names under seal: « I’ve received criticism and threats. I’d imagine they would too… I had no idea myself this case would arouse such public interest. I still am surprised. »
On prosecutor Greg Andres’ confession that he should have asked a question of a witness: « Confession is good for the soul. » Andres: « I think my soul is in pretty good shape or it should be after this process. » Ellis: « I’ll help. »
On the prosecution’s decision to call one more witness: « Ladies and gentlemen, the bad news is we have one more witness. It’s not really bad news. It’s what it is. The good news is that it will be a short witness. That’s not really good news either. We have to hear all of the evidence and consider it carefully. »
On his new law clerks: « Well, if you’d like, I’ll take a moment and go get it. But it won’t surprise you to learn that I don’t have a phalanx of lawyers working… And, in fact, this came at a time when I lost all my law clerks and I get brand new ones, and they know nothing and have not been involved in this case. »
On use of electronic devices during jury deliberations: « Now, during your deliberations, you must not communicate with or provide any information to anyone by any means about this case. You may not use any electronic device or media. I could go through a whole list. Nothing about a cell phone or an iPhone or, good heavens, this is now outdated, BlackBerry. »
On giving the prosecution a deadline to review jury instructions: « But I think this will help focus your mind. You remember what Sam Johnson said about the man who was about to be hanged: It wonderfully concentrates the mind. 2:00 p.m. will wonderfully concentrate your mind on the instructions. » Andres: « Provided I’m not going to be hanged. » Ellis: « Well, the hanging is merely a metaphor. What might happen to you could be worse. Your imagination controls that. »
On keeping jury deliberations confidential: « Let me offer a caution that I want you to take quite seriously. I’m always disturbed when I see in the media, and I do see it — in the past I saw it fairly frequently, I don’t know if I’ve seen it much in the last few years, but I’ve seen jurors discussing what went on in the course of deliberations in the jury room. That seems to me to do an injury to the deliberate process. If jurors knew in advance everything they said and did in the course of their deliberations was going to be grist for the media mill, I think it might well have a chilling effect on deliberations. »
Week 2
On possible tears in Andres’ eyes during a private discussion: « Well, I understand how frustrated you are. In fact, there’s tears in your eyes right now. » Andres: « There are not tears in my eyes, Judge. » Ellis: « Well, they’re watery. »
On his mistake in criticizing prosecutors: « I was probably wrong in that. But like any human, and this robe doesn’t make me anything other than human, I sometimes make mistakes. »
On his reminder to the prosecution that they wrap up their case quickly: « As a concession to the shortness of life, we need to get it done. » Later: « Now we need to bring it to a close and it’s lunchtime. »
On the virtue of patience: « Judges should be patient. They made a mistake when they confirmed me. I’m not very patient, so don’t try my patience, either. »
On the lawyers’ request for « a moment » to confer: « You can have a day. » As the lawyers began to exit the courtroom: « I was only kidding about a day. »
On empathizing with a juror who forgot her number during roll call: « And I can understand your haziness on the number. It brings to mind when I forgot my service number when I was first a young member of the United States Navy. And that was a painful experience. And to this day, some 60-some years later, 647251. »
On the jury’s lunch menu options: « I hope you enjoy your pheasant under glass or whatever else you were able to see on the menu. I’ve looked pretty hard at Panera’s menu, but I’ve never seen that. So maybe if you do get something engaging, you can tell me about it and I’ll take steps to get it. »
On his uneventful weekend: « I had a pleasant and uneventful (weekend) — and to me that always makes it pleasant, I realize. You’ll get to the point where uneventful is really good. »
On courtroom poker: « It isn’t appropriate to ask him, his counsel, what witnesses they intend or how many witnesses they intend, because sort of like poker, you don’t have to show your hand until you’re called, something like that. I’m not a poker player. »
On understanding the pressure of high-profile cases: « I remember trying cases…. I had big cases that I thought were important. They were important to me, important to my career. And I remember the stress and I remember the pressure. And so I know that’s true for both of you — I mean all of you. This is a stressful time. So I understand that. But I’m trying to minimize the stress time is all I’m trying to do. »
Week 1
On free lunches provided to the jury: « I hope you will not hurry to slit your wrists. There is a positive side. The court will provide your lunch, every day. Don’t, however, look for the Baked Alaska. You won’t find it. But the menu will be palatable stuff. »
On the jury potentially bringing in cake to celebrate a birthday: « I quit having those some years ago. My wife is younger and I’m waiting for her to catch up.
