Florida Judge Aileen Cannon has postponed the trial of Ryan Routh, accused of attempting to assassinate President-elect Donald Trump, from February to September 2025. Routh's defense had initially requested delaying the trial until at least December 2025, but Cannon deemed that timeline excessive.
In her order issued on December 23, Judge Cannon cited the substantial volume of evidence, including numerous electronic devices, as the reason for the delay. The new schedule outlines pre-trial deadlines leading up to a two-week trial starting on September 8.
Routh, 58, faces charges of attempted assassination and assaulting a Secret Service agent, which could result in a life sentence, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ). During a December 11 pre-trial hearing, the defense indicated they might pursue an insanity defense, with a deadline of February 3 set for submitting such a notice along with related expert evidence.
The DOJ argued that much of the evidence consists of devices owned by Routh himself, including 17 out of 18 highlighted cellphones. Prosecutors also pointed out that while the defense might not be familiar with these devices, most of their contents are unlikely to be significant to the case.
Defense attorney Kristy Militello suggested that Routh may not remember some of the contents of the devices and noted that reviewing them thoroughly could take significant time. Additionally, the defense expressed plans to review Routh's childhood school records for insights into his mental health history. Prosecutor John Shipley countered that such historical records were largely irrelevant, as insanity must be evaluated at the time of the crime.
Cannon disagreed with the prosecution's claim that the delay violates the Crime Victims' Rights Act, asserting that the interests of justice outweigh the need for a speedy trial. She also expressed skepticism about the defense's vague timeline for securing expert evaluations.
The court has scheduled three pre-trial conferences on March 3, August 8, and September 2, along with hearings for unresolved motions on May 14 and 15. Additionally, a joint report on jury selection procedures is due by June 13.
Routh remains detained at a federal prison in Miami. The defense raised concerns about the difficulty of consulting with him, but Cannon stated there were no barriers preventing attorney-client communication or Routh's review of discovery materials.
Prosecutors also expressed concern about Routh's public statements potentially influencing the jury pool. They referenced an October 15, 2024, recorded jail call in which Routh told a family member he sought publicity to shape public perception and present himself as honorable.
Judge Cannon previously oversaw other high-profile cases involving Trump, including dismissing the classified documents case against him in July. In October, she denied Routh's motion for her recusal, clarifying she had no personal connection to Trump outside official judicial proceedings.
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