In this courtroom sketch, Justice Arthur Engoron listens to Trump's lawyer Clifford Robert during a hearing related to New York Attorney General Letitia James' civil lawsuit alleging that former President Donald Trump ran a systematic fraud at his family business at a courthouse in New York, Sept. 22, 2023.levied against former president Donald Trump and his adult sons, they are largely delivering their arguments to an audience of one.
Engoron has served as a judge in New York County for the last 20 years, first on the city's civil court and later on the state supreme court. Described by colleagues as "even-keeled," "dedicated," and "bright," Engoron has developed a reputation as a reliable albeit unusual judge, according to past and former associates who spoke with ABC News.
"I loved the freedom, the instant cash, getting to meet people, learning how to drive like a maniac without being caught," Engoron said in court, according to New York Post reporting from the time. "I have had a lot of lawyers who got to another firm, but he's the only one who told me he was leaving to pursue music," Janowitz said.
"As a new judge, there's so much to absorb, so much coming at you," Engoron said in a 2003 article in the New York State Court System's internal newsletter.