Your feedback ensures we stay focused on the facts that matter to you most—take our survey.
Juan Merchan
Ballotpedia provides comprehensive election coverage of the 100 largest cities in America by population as well as mayoral, city council, and district attorney election coverage in state capitals outside of the 100 largest cities. This judge is outside of that coverage scope and does not receive scheduled updates.
Do you have a photo that could go here? Click here to submit it for this profile!
2028
Juan Merchan is an acting justice for the New York County Supreme Court, Criminal Term in the 1st Judicial District of New York. He was appointed to this position in 2009 by Chief Administrative Judge Ann T. Pfau. He has also served on the New York Court of Claims since 2009 and on the Bronx County Family Court since 2006.[1][2]
Biography
Merchan received his B.B.A. degree from Baruch College (City University of New York) in 1990 and his J.D. degree from Hofstra University School of Law in 1994.[1]
Career
- 2009-Present: Acting Justice, New York County Supreme Court, Criminal Term
- 2009-2018: Judge, New York Court of Claims
- 2006-2015: Judge, Bronx County Family Court
- 2003-2006: Assistant Attorney General in-Charge Nassau County Region
- 2001-2003: Assistant Attorney General in-Charge of Affirmative Litigation for Nassau and Suffolk counties
- 1999-2001: Deputy Assistant Attorney General in-Charge Nassau County Region
- 1998-1999: Investigations Division of the New York County District Attorney's Office
- 1994-1998: Trial Division of the New York County District Attorney's Office[1]
Noteworthy cases
Presided over criminal conviction of Donald Trump (R) by New York jury (2023-2024)
On May 30, 2024, a Manhattan jury found former President Donald Trump (R) guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree, making Trump the first U.S. president to ever be indicted on and convicted of felony crimes after his time in office.[3] Trump's sentencing took place on January 10, 2025. Judge Juan Merchan sentenced Trump to an unconditional discharge, meaning Trump would have the conviction on his record, but the sentence carried no jail time, fines, or probation.[4][5][6][7][8]
Trump responded to the sentence, saying, "The Radical Democrats have lost another pathetic, unAmerican Witch Hunt."[9] Trump said he would appeal the ruling. Trump's legal team can file a notice of appeal within 30 days of his sentencing date, and the appeal would be heard by a New York Appellate Division court.[10]
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) announced the grand jury criminal indictment of Trump on March 30, 2023, .[11] The indictment was unsealed on April 4, showing that the grand jury had voted to charge Trump with 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree.[12] The trial began on April 15, 2024.[13][14][15][16] Judge Juan Merchan presided over the grand jury and the case.[17][18][19]
Trump Organization found guilty of tax fraud charges (2022)
On December 6, 2022, the Trump Corporation and the Trump Payroll Corporation, known together as the Trump Organization, were found guilty of 17 counts of tax fraud. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) prosecuted the case, and Judge Juan Merchan presided over it. The Trump Organization was ordered to pay a total of $1.61 million in fines.[20]
Following the decision, Bragg said, "While corporations can’t serve jail time, this consequential conviction and sentencing serves as a reminder to corporations and executives that you cannot defraud tax authorities and get away with it. It is also an important reminder that our state law must change so that we can impose more significant penalties and sanctions on corporations that commit crimes in New York. Today’s sentencing of The Trump Corporation and The Trump Payroll Corp. represents a significant chapter of our ongoing investigation into the former President and his businesses."[20]
Kimberly Benza, a spokeswoman for the Trump Organization, said in a statement, "New York has become the crime and murder capital of the world, yet these politically motivated prosecutors will stop at nothing to get President Trump and continue the never ending witch-hunt which began the day he announced his presidency."[21]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 New York Courts, "Official biography of the Hon. Juan Merchan"
- ↑ New York County Supreme Court judicial directory, Criminal Term
- ↑ CNBC, "Trump guilty on all 34 counts in hush money trial, in historic first for a former U.S. president," May 30, 2024
- ↑ The Hill, "New York judge calls off Trump hush money sentencing ," November 22, 2024
- ↑ Associated Press, "Judge sets Trump’s sentencing in hush money case for Jan. 10, but signals no jail time," January 3, 2025
- ↑ New York Courts, "DECISION and ORDER," January 3, 2025
- ↑ N.Y. Penal Law, "N.Y. Penal Law § 65.20," accessed January 8, 2025
- ↑ NPR, "Trump is sentenced in hush money case — but gets no penalty or fine," January 10, 2025
- ↑ Truth Social, "Trump on January 10, 2025," accessed January 10, 2025
- ↑ Axios, "How Trump's appeal will play out," May 31, 2024
- ↑ Twitter, "Alvin Bragg on March 30, 2023," accessed March 31, 2023
- ↑ Manhattan District Attorney, "Donald J. Trump Indictment," accessed April 4, 2023
- ↑ The trial was originally set to start on March 25, 2024, but was delayed due to the release of over 100,000 page of new evidence.
- ↑ Associated Press, "Trump makes video appearance in New York criminal case, trial date set for March primary season," May 24, 2023
- ↑ The New York Times, "Judge Delays Trump’s Manhattan Trial Until at Least Mid-April," March 15, 2024
- ↑ Associated Press, "Trump’s New York hush money case is set for trial April 15," March 25, 2024
- ↑ Lawfare, "New York Supreme Court Judge Allows Public Disclosure of Trump Indictment," March 31, 2023
- ↑ The New York Times, "Grand Jury Votes to Indict Donald Trump in New York," March 30, 2023
- ↑ Wall Street Journal, "Grand Jury Votes to Indict Donald Trump," March 30, 2023
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Manhattan District Attorney, "D.A. Bragg Trump Corporation & Trump Payroll Corp. Sentenced To Pay Maximum Fines Under Law Following Felony Trial Conviction," January 13, 2023
- ↑ NPR, "The Trump Organization has been ordered to pay $1.61 million for tax fraud," January 13, 2023
