During a recent court hearing, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon expressed skepticism about the defense’s request to delay the trial of Ryan W. Routh, the man accused of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump. The defense team had asked to push the trial from February 2025 to December 2025, citing the massive volume of discovery materials that needed to be reviewed. The defense argued that continuing with the trial as scheduled would violate Routh’s due process rights due to the time required to process the evidence.
Routh’s attorneys explained that the discovery materials in the case were extensive, including files from 17 of Routh’s phones, other electronic devices, and various digital files. According to the defense, this information was only a portion of the materials that had been provided, with more anticipated from federal prosecutors. As a result, the defense team argued that reviewing all the documents, videos, and other materials, and preparing a solid defense, would require several months of work. One of Routh’s attorneys, Kristy Militello, emphasized that without the resources available to federal investigators, it would be impossible to complete this task in time for the scheduled trial date. Militello compared the situation to a scenario where a lawyer would need a year of nonstop work to go through everything.
However, Judge Cannon expressed doubts about the extent of the obstacles presented by the defense. She told the attorneys that she wasn’t entirely convinced that the roadblocks they were describing were as significant as they had suggested. The judge’s comments indicated that she was not fully persuaded by the defense’s arguments for such a lengthy delay, although she did acknowledge the volume of materials involved. Despite her skepticism, Judge Cannon indicated that she would make a ruling on the request for a delay in the near future.
The prosecution, represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Shipley, did not oppose a trial delay but strongly objected to the nearly yearlong delay that the defense had proposed. Shipley argued that pushing the trial to December 2025 was unreasonable and would be detrimental to the justice process. He contended that a delay of that length was not feasible and that the trial could proceed without compromising Routh’s rights. While the prosecution recognized the complexity of the case, they maintained that a more moderate delay would be appropriate.
Routh’s attorneys pointed out that the volume of discovery, combined with the time required to process and review the materials, made it impossible for them to meet the original trial date. They argued that continuing the trial without sufficient time to prepare would result in a miscarriage of justice, especially given the severity of the charges against Routh, which include attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer, and using a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime. The defense stressed that the quality of Routh’s defense could be compromised if they were forced to move forward with the trial under these conditions.
In September 2024, Routh was arrested near the Trump International Golf Club in Palm Beach, Florida, after a Secret Service agent reportedly saw him carrying a rifle near the golf course while Trump was on the course. Authorities alleged that Routh had been waiting for hours to carry out the assassination. After his arrest, federal agents discovered a letter addressed to the “world,” in which Routh admitted that he had attempted to kill Trump but apologized for failing. The discovery of this letter, along with other evidence, played a significant role in shaping the charges against Routh.
Routh faces a range of serious charges, including attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer, and illegally possessing a firearm. If convicted, he could face life imprisonment. His defense attorneys have argued that the complexity of the case, combined with the vast amount of discovery, requires more time to prepare an effective defense. They emphasized that the seriousness of the charges and the potential consequences make it essential for Routh to receive a fair trial, which they believe would be impossible without additional time to process the evidence.
Judge Cannon has stated that she will make a decision on the defense’s request for a trial delay soon, with the ruling expected in the near future. Her decision will likely have a significant impact on the timeline of the case and could shape the overall approach to Routh’s defense as the legal process moves forward. The outcome of the ruling will determine whether the trial will proceed as originally scheduled or if the defense will be granted additional time to prepare.
