donald trump
FILE - Former President Donald Trump speaks at his Mar-a-Lago estate Tuesday, April 4, 2023, in Palm Beach, Florida.
  • The judge overseeing the DOJ's case against Trump has the power to tip the scales in Trump's favor.
  • She will make decisions about the trial's schedule, jury selection, and what evidence is admissible.
  • "These decisions shape the entire case," said one former federal prosecutor.

US District Judge Aileen Cannon is no stranger to being in the spotlight. But she's under a new level of scrutiny as she prepares to preside over a pretrial hearing Tuesday afternoon that could have huge and far-reaching implications for former President Donald Trump and the 2024 political landscape.