Judge Sets Deadline: FTX Founder SBF’s Fate Hangs On September 7 Jury Request

In a dramatic courtroom exchange, Judge Lewis Kaplan and the defense team representing former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) discussed trial preparation challenges and looming deadlines today.

The proceedings shed light on the defense’s alleged difficulties in handling the case from within Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) walls. At the same time, the judge offered a limited window for potential trial date adjustments.

Judge Kaplan And Defense Clash In FTX Founder’s Case

As reported on X (formerly Twitter) by Inner City Press, the dialogue unfolded with Judge Kaplan setting a September 7 deadline for requesting a jury based on the trial start date of October 3.

The defense team, however, refrained from seeking a different trial date for preparation purposes, prompting the judge to remind them of the opportunity available within the limited timeframe.

Amidst concerns raised by SBF’s lawyer about late discovery and the government’s charging decisions, Judge Kaplan clarified that the grand jury was responsible for the timing. The defense argued for the right to access necessary documents, emphasizing the challenge of SBF’s confinement.

However, the judge noted that the defense had not formally requested more time, highlighting the need for a substantive demonstration of necessity.

The interaction continued with discussions regarding FTX’s code base and expert witnesses, with the defense highlighting the bespoke nature of the code base and the need for their client’s access to it.

The defense and prosecutors also exchanged remarks about the availability and transfer of Slack messages and Google documents.

Judge Kaplan addressed the defense’s concerns about an alleged deluge of documents, asserting that the defense’s claims were “exaggerated”.

He emphasized that if the defense desired a postponement, they should request it promptly, emphasizing the need to demonstrate a clear necessity beyond the volume of documents.