New York's top court rejects Trump gag order appeal in one-sentence ruling

New York's highest court rejected Donald Trump's latest appeal of the gag order in his Manhattan criminal trial.

The order issued by justice Juan Merchan prohibits the former president from publicly disparaging attorneys serving in the district attorney's office, court personnel and jurors who found him guilty on 34 felony counts, but the Court of Appeals succinctly declined to hear Trump's new arguments opposing it.

"Appeal dismissed without costs, by the Court sua sponte, upon the ground that no substantial constitutional question is directly involved," the panel ruled.

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The decision will hold the gag order in place until Trump is sentenced on Nov. 26 for falsifying business records to cover up hush money payments to an adult film actress with whom he allegedly had an extramarital affair.

Chief judge Rowan Wilson and associate Judge Caitlin Halligan recused themselves from the decision, but they did not explain why.

Previous reports indicate Wilson recused himself because Merchan was being represented by the Office of Court Administration, which Wilson oversees.