So, Team Tangerine has its merits brief due in just under ten elapsed days.

This is a decidedly bad omen, for MAGA supporters, and doubly so, when coupled to Justice Thomas’ overnight setting a slow schedule to even get papers back from the FBI/DoJ — as to whether the dispute Trump tried to take upstairs. . . is ripe for SCOTUS review (it is not). The briefing in the Eleventh Circuit is likely to be well-nigh half over, before Tangerine even hears that he has been rebuffed by the Supremes.

…ORDER: Appellant’s “Motion to Expedite Appeal” is granted. The Court directs the Clerk to expedite the appeal for merits disposition purposes. Having consulted with the Chief Judge, the appeal will be assigned to a special merits panel from the classified appeals log randomly selected by the Clerk.

That panel will decide when and how to hear oral argument. The Court sets the following expedited briefing schedule, with no extensions allowed:

[Trump’s] Appellant’s initial brief is due on or before October 14, 2022.

Appellee’s response brief is due on November 10, 2022.

Appellant’s reply brief, if any, is due on November 17, 2022….

It must be said — the Eleventh Circuit uses common sense: if the 100 or so papers are plainly marked “Top Secret”… and no one disputes that fact, it is near impossible to see how the former guy has any standing to even be in Ailene Cannon’s courtroom. This is not a civil matter; this is a 20 years felony matter — and that is where the Eleventh Circuit special panel will send it — back to the criminal warrants magistrate, in Miami (after finding against Baby-T). Grinning, now — ear to ear.

नमस्ते