Overview
- The appeals court said it was not confident the lower court adequately weighed key factors and that it bypassed important issues tied to the removal standard.
- U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein was directed to reconsider the request and may seek further briefing or hold a hearing to resolve the questions.
- The panel took no position on whether the removal effort should ultimately succeed, leaving that decision to the district court.
- Judges flagged that the prior ruling did not analyze whether trial evidence related to immunized official acts or whether such evidentiary immunity affected the case’s federal character.
- Trump’s 34-count New York conviction for falsifying business records remains in place as separate state appellate challenges continue.