[ATTW-L] a sample of e-mail correspondence

[Dragga, Sam]

For a timely example of e-mail correspondence, consider the chain of messages regarding arrangements for closing arguments in the business fraud trial of Donald Trump (People v. Trump, et al., No. 452564/2022), and specifically the exchange regarding Trump’s intention to participate in the trial’s closing arguments. In the exchange, Judge Engoron explains that he is willing to allow this unusual participation by Trump but subject to the usual conditions on closing arguments. Trump and Trump’s representative, Christopher Kise, object to the conditions and try to delay closing arguments, but Judge Engoron rejects the proposed delay and rescinds his permission for Trump to participate in closing arguments.

Students might find this sample of real-world e-mail correspondence especially instructive as it offers the opportunity to analyze a failed effort at persuasion. Note the deterioration from Kise’s reasons to object to the conditions imposed to simple whining about their being unfair. Notice also how Kise initially writes in all lower case letters to Judge Engoron (informal? Impertinent?), but later switches to writing in upper and lower case letters as the unflinching Judge Engoron insists on the day and time as well as the conditions for closing arguments.

The 10-page e-mail exchange (January 3 - 10, 2024) is available at https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24356729-trump-civil-case-judge-engoron.

Sam

Sam Dragga
Professor Emeritus
Texas Tech University
sam.dragga at ttu.edu
1-806-543-6099

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