Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Aileen Cannon

Public opinion and media debates around Aileen Cannon—discover key moments of controversy.

Aileen Mercedes Cannon is a U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Florida, appointed by President Donald Trump in 2020. Prior to her judicial appointment, she worked at the law firm Gibson Dunn and served as a federal prosecutor in the Southern District of Florida. She was confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

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Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

2021: Privately reimbursed for attending legal seminars

In 2021, Aileen Cannon was privately reimbursed when attending two legal seminars ("Sage Lodge Colloquium") at a luxury resort in Montana organized by George Mason University, which she did not disclose.

2021: Attended Legal Colloquia

In 2021, Cannon participated in legal colloquia at Sage Lodge in Pray, Montana, funded by George Mason University, which she did not disclose as required.

April 2022: Sentenced Paul Vernon Hoeffer

In April 2022, Aileen Cannon sentenced Paul Vernon Hoeffer to only 18 months in prison and three years of supervised release, along with a $2,000 fine, for making death threats against Nancy Pelosi, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Kim Foxx, despite sentencing guidelines recommending 33-41 months.

September 5, 2022: Granted Trump's Request for a Special Master

On September 5, 2022, Aileen Cannon granted Trump's request for a special master to review seized materials and ordered the Justice Department to stop using the seized material in its investigation.

September 2022: Cannon allegedly received threats

In September 2022, Cannon allegedly received threats in voicemails from a woman claiming to be "Donald Trump's hitman."

September 21, 2022: Eleventh Circuit stayed portions of Cannon's ruling

On September 21, 2022, the Eleventh Circuit stayed portions of Cannon's ruling, allowing around 100 classified documents to be used in the Justice Department's investigation and rescinding the requirement for the special master to review the classified documents, stating Cannon abused her discretion.

December 2022: Ethics complaints dismissed

In December 2022, ethics complaints against Cannon regarding her handling of the Trump case were dismissed by the Eleventh Circuit's chief judge, William Pryor.

2022: Presided over Trump Case

In 2022, Aileen Cannon presided over the case of Donald J. Trump v. United States of America, pausing the use of seized materials and granting a special master. The Eleventh Circuit reversed her decision, and Cannon later dismissed the lawsuit per the court's orders.

2022: Privately reimbursed for attending legal seminars

In 2022, Aileen Cannon was privately reimbursed when attending two legal seminars ("Sage Lodge Colloquium") at a luxury resort in Montana organized by George Mason University, which she did not disclose.

2022: Attended Legal Colloquia

In 2022, Cannon participated in legal colloquia at Sage Lodge in Pray, Montana, funded by George Mason University, which she did not disclose as required.

2022: Criticism for Trump Case Handling

In 2022, Law360 named the Trump case one of ten "major legal ethics cases" of 2022. Legal experts voiced surprise at Cannon's ruling or found it problematic due to concerns over Trump's personal interests.

June 12, 2023: Closed Jury Selection to Public

On June 12, 2023, during a federal trial, Aileen Cannon closed the jury selection to the public due to space restrictions, and failed to swear in the jury. Both prosecutors and the defense attorney asked Cannon to open the courtroom.

June 2023: Oversaw Federal Criminal Case Against Trump

In June 2023, Aileen Cannon oversaw a federal criminal case against Trump following his indictment.

June 2023: Cannon assigned to Trump criminal case

In June 2023, Cannon was assigned to oversee the criminal case against former president Donald Trump, prompting calls for her recusal from legal experts.

June 2023: Cannon rules against Department of Justice

In late June 2023, Cannon ruled against the Department of Justice, denying its request to keep the identities of 84 potential witnesses under seal.

August 2023: Cannon rules in favor of Trump

In August 2023, Cannon ruled in favor of Trump on the issue of potential conflicts of interest regarding co-defendant Walt Nauta's lawyer Stanley Woodward representation of possible witnesses in the case. She rejected the notion that sealed filings were required "to comport with grand jury secrecy", striking two sealed filings by prosecutors from the court record.

September 2023: Delay of pre-trial hearing

In September 2023, after Trump's legal team requested an extension, Cannon delayed a crucial pre-trial hearing on the Classified Information Procedures Act (CIPA) from October 2023 to February 2024.

October 2023: CIPA hearing delayed to February 2024

In September 2023, Cannon delayed a crucial pre-trial hearing on the Classified Information Procedures Act (CIPA) from October 2023 to February 2024.

2023: Attended Banquet

In 2023, Cannon participated in a banquet funded by George Mason University, which she did not disclose as required.

February 9, 2024: Woman pleads guilty to threatening Cannon

On February 9, 2024, a woman pleaded guilty and was subject to 37 months in federal prison for allegedly leaving Cannon threatening voicemails in September 2022.

February 2024: Cannon grants Trump's motion for witness names

In February 2024, Cannon granted Trump's team's motion for the names of witnesses in this case and their testimony to be publicly revealed, prompting the government's prosecutors to ask Cannon to reconsider.

February 2024: CIPA hearing delayed

In September 2023, Cannon delayed a crucial pre-trial hearing on the Classified Information Procedures Act (CIPA) from October 2023 to February 2024.

March 2024: Cannon rules on further scheduling

After Trump's legal team in September 2023 requested an extension to the case, Cannon delayed a crucial pre-trial hearing on the Classified Information Procedures Act (CIPA) from October 2023 to February 2024, while also ruling that she would only ponder on further scheduling in March 2024.

March 2024: Hearing on postponing trial

After the March 2024 hearing on postponing the May 20, 2024 trial, Cannon took until May 7, 2024, to issue an update on the matter.

March 2024: Cannon denies attempt to dismiss case

In March 2024, Cannon denied without prejudice an attempt by Trump to dismiss the case, but indicated that arguments about the Espionage Act could be brought up later.

March 2024: Witness identifies himself in media interview

In March 2024, a witness in the case identified himself in a media interview, citing Cannon's plan to publicize the witness names.

April 2024: Cannon agrees to censor witnesses' names

In April 2024, Cannon agreed to censor the potential witnesses' names, but not their statements, from the public.

April 2024: Cannon denies another motion to dismiss

In April 2024, Cannon denied another motion by Trump to dismiss the case, stating that "the Presidential Records Act does not provide a pre-trial basis to dismiss".

May 7, 2024: Cannon postpones trial

After the March 2024 hearing on postponing the May 20, 2024 trial, Cannon took until May 7, 2024, to issue an update on the matter, ruling to indefinitely postpone the trial.

May 2024: Cannon grants delay to defense teams

After prosecutors asked for a CIPA hearing in March and the defense teams requested for June, Cannon decided in April that the new hearing date should be in May, but when that date approached, the defense teams again requested delay, so Cannon in May granted the defense teams' earlier request of June CIPA hearings.

May 2024: Cannon denies gag order request

In May 2024, Cannon responded by denying the prosecutors' request for a gag order on Trump pertaining to law enforcement and instead accusing the prosecutors of being "wholly lacking in substance and professional courtesy" when discussing the issue with the defense team.

May 2024: Reported ethics violation

In May 2024, NPR reported that Aileen Cannon had violated internal judiciary rules and federal ethics law when she did not timely disclose that in 2021 and 2022, she was privately reimbursed when attending two legal seminars ("Sage Lodge Colloquium") at a luxury resort in Montana organized by George Mason University, and only disclosed it when NPR enquired about the matter.

May 2024: Trump's view of Cannon

In May 2024, The Washington Post stated that Cannon's "rulings are generally hailed as uniquely wise" by Trump supporters, and she has "been celebrated by adherents of the QAnon movement".

May 20, 2024: Original Trial Date Postponed

After the March 2024 hearing on postponing the May 20, 2024 trial, Cannon took until May 7, 2024, to issue an update on the matter, ruling to indefinitely postpone the trial.

June 20, 2024: Judges urged Cannon to decline case

On June 20, 2024, The New York Times reported that shortly after being assigned the case, two federal judges in South Florida privately urged Cannon to decline the case.

July 15, 2024: Cannon dismisses case against Trump

On July 15, 2024, Cannon dismissed the case against Trump, ruling that "Special Counsel Smith’s appointment violates the Appointments Clause of the United States Constitution."

July 2024: Dismissed case against Trump

In July 2024, Aileen Cannon dismissed the federal criminal case against Trump, ruling that special counsel Jack Smith's appointment was unconstitutional. The ruling was appealed and then dropped.

July 22, 2024: Scheduled pre-trial activities continue

After the March 2024 hearing on postponing the May 20, 2024 trial, Cannon took until May 7, 2024, to issue an update on the matter. Cannon scheduled pre-trial activities to continue up to July 22, 2024, at the earliest.

2024: Courtroom Same as United States v. Trump Trial

In 2024, the courtroom in which Aileen Cannon closed the jury selection to the public is the same one in which the 2024 criminal trial United States v. Trump was set to take place, which prompted concern from one legal scholar about how Cannon would handle space restrictions.

January 7, 2025: Cannon Orders Halt to Release of Smith's Report

On January 7, 2025, Aileen Cannon ordered Jack Smith, his subordinates, Attorney General Merrick Garland, and the Department of Justice to delay the release of Smith's report on Trump's classified documents case until three days after the 11th Circuit ruled on its release.

January 13, 2025: Cannon Declines to Block Release of Volume I of Smith's Report

On January 13, 2025, Judge Cannon declined to block the release of Volume I of Smith's report, which describes Trump's actions after the 2020 election. Simultaneously, Cannon blocked the release of Volume II of Smith's report and arranged for a hearing on January 17.