New Wrinkle in Ghislaine Maxwell Trial as Judge May Be Promoted
The New York Times
Senator Chuck Schumer will recommend Judge Alison J. Nathan for a seat on a federal appeals court, but the fraught case could put her in an unusual predicament.
The Manhattan judge presiding in the high-profile trial of Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime associate of Jeffrey Epstein, will be recommended to the White House on Tuesday evening for a prestigious federal appeals court post by Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, his office said.
The judge, Alison J. Nathan, 49, has spent a decade on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. On Tuesday, she was overseeing jury selection in the trial of Ms. Maxwell, who has been charged with sex trafficking and with helping Mr. Epstein recruit, groom and ultimately sexually abuse girls. Ms. Maxwell has pleaded not guilty.
The trial, in which opening arguments are scheduled for Nov. 29, could last six weeks, defense lawyers and prosecutors have said in court filings.