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The E. Jean Carroll trial against Donald Trump for rape and defamation began poorly for the former president, with opening statements by lawyers for both parties starting with Trump’s decision to not bother showing up in person.
Trump does not have to attend the trial and his decision not to likely reflects a strategic choice to show that he is above the allegations, calculated to send a not-so-subtle message to the jury that the claims are not serious enough to even warrant his attendance. This is a mistake on Trump’s part and unlikely to go over well with the jury. After all, they have to be there because of him so why shouldn’t he be there?
As a former sex crimes prosecutor, it’s my experience that juries take their obligations in allegations of sexual assault very seriously and work conscientiously to objectively and dispassionately evaluate the evidence each case. Credibility determinations are a particularly important factor in such cases and a big part of that is the demeanor of parties both on and off the stand. In preparing witnesses for court, I always impress upon that every moment the jury or judge can see them counts.