Embrace the madness of Donald Trump's trial in Fort Pierce. It'll be history in the making

Hobe Sound resident Bruce Montefusco may have perfectly summed up what Treasure Coast residents can expect if former President Donald Trump's trial over mishandled classified documents stays in Fort Pierce.

"Judge Ito, the presiding judge in the O.J. Simpson trial, is probably putting on his clown outfit to join the circus that's bound to occur if Trump actually shows up in Ft. Pierce," Montefusco emailed me a few days ago.

Montefusco was referring to Lance Ito, who presided over the 1995 "Trial of the Century," in which Simpson, a retired football player and television personality, was accused of killing his ex-wife and a male friend of hers. Those of us who were alive back then remember how the trial captured everyone's attention for months on end, with sensational new revelations coming to light seemingly every day.

There was a circuslike atmosphere to the proceedings in and outside the courtroom. And I believe Montefusco is correct in assuming we'll be in for more of the same when Trump's trial begins.

Here's my advice to locals: Embrace this. Embrace the likelihood our everyday lives are going to be disrupted from the moment the trial starts until a verdict is rendered, if not later.

There are going to be traffic tie-ups. It's probably going to be tougher to get seated in downtown restaurants around lunch hour. Parking spaces will be harder to find.

Trump supporters and detractors are likely to stage noisy protests in the streets. (Imagine several weeks' worth of protests even bigger than the ones held outside Sunrise Theatre the night of the gubernatorial debate last fall.)

Street entrepreneurs will be selling souvenirs, some thoroughly tacky and tasteless, to anyone with a few bucks to spare.

There's no telling what kind of foolishness celebrities and wannabe celebrities who converge on the Sunrise City might get into while they're here.

And yet, I still say embrace this. Because it's an opportunity to have front-row seats for something truly historic.

You'll have the rest of your lives to get to work on time. You may never get another chance to see a former president hauled into court to face criminal charges.

Whether you love or loathe Trump, you're not going to want to miss experiencing this firsthand. Of course, we may have to wait a while for the show to begin.

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon set an initial trial date of Aug. 14 for Trump, who faces 37 felony counts accusing him of illegally hoarding classified documents and obstructing Justice Department efforts to get them back. Unless something changes (more on that in a minute), the trial will be held at the Alto Lee Adams Sr. U.S. Courthouse in Fort Pierce.

The trial date seems almost certain to be pushed back. In papers filed June 23, prosecutors with special counsel Jack Smith’s team asked for the trial to be delayed to Dec. 11. They said the move was necessary because the case involves classified information and will require Trump’s lawyers to obtain security clearances.

I wouldn't count on the trial starting during the final days of the Christmas shopping season, either.

Legal disputes between the opposing sides are likely to crop up during the pre-trial period, possibly pushing the start date into next year.

However, it seems likely, although not guaranteed, this case will eventually come to trial and it appears to be headed for Fort Pierce. I'm treading a bit cautiously because there's already been speculation about Cannon, a Trump appointee to the federal bench, being asked to recuse herself.

If she does, the case might be reassigned to another federal courtroom elsewhere in South Florida. It could also be moved for logistical reasons, if, for example, the two sides complain there isn't enough hotel space in Fort Pierce to accommodate the throngs of witnesses, law enforcement officials, reporters and others who will be involved in this spectacle.

That planned high-rise hotel at King's Landing sure would come in handy, but I don't think the trial delays are going to last quite that long.

I've heard speculation Trump's legal team might try to delay the trial past next year's presidential election. I think that would be a mistake, for all involved.

The judge shouldn't delay the trial for political reasons. That would set a precedent that might encourage criminal defendants in other cases to file paperwork to run for president as a way to delay their own trial dates.

There are likely to be some procedural delays, but probably not a full year's worth. If the trial starts at any point next year, it's going to conflict with some portion of either the primary or general election season.

I don't think for a minute anyone who's supporting Trump at this point is going to be swayed by any new evidence that comes to light in this trial.

Trump's supporters are hardcore "ride-or-die" types. But if he's forced to spend significant amounts of his time in a Fort Pierce courtroom while Gov. Ron DeSantis and other presidential rivals are campaigning in Iowa, New Hampshire or wherever, that's not going to help the former president get his message out.

Also, Trump has other legal troubles that may come to a head in the next few months, so he would be better served by getting closure on this matter sooner rather than later.

So yeah, Fort Pierce is probably going to be ground zero for the new Trial of the Century. You can spend that time grousing about minor inconveniences, or you can look for stories you'll be able to share with your grandchildren.

Which hotshot news anchors will you spot dining at the Sunrise City Cafe? How long will you have to sit in traffic, waiting for Trump's motorcade to shuttle him from Causeway Cove Marina's helipad to the courthouse? When will you stumble past one of the legal teams' late-night strategy sessions at Second Street Bistro?

Our rendezvous with destiny awaits us. There's no sense trying to run from it.

This column reflects the opinion of Blake Fontenay. Contact him via email at bfontenay@gannett.com or at 772-232-5424.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Trump trial will bring headaches to Fort Pierce, but bring them on!