Judge Aileen Cannon, who presides over the Mar-a-Lago documents case, appears open to President Trump’s argument that Special Counsel Jack Smith was unconstitutionally appointed, a possibility that could rock the prosecution of the 45th president. 

The judge has telegraphed her curiosity about the disqualification of the special counsel in an unusual docket note. The question has hung over the special counsel from the start. Judge Cannon, though, ventured that two briefs supporting Mr. Trump’s position that Mr. Smith’s appointment was defective “bring to the Court’s attention relevant matter that may be of considerable help to the Court in resolving the cited pretrial motions.”