Katie Mack: I need a style guide is it “former president and convicted felon Donald Trump” or “convicted felon and former president Donald Trump”? And when is it appropriate to use simply “convict”?

I need a style guide is it “former president and convicted felon Donald Trump” or “convicted felon and former president Donald Trump”? And when is it appropriate to use simply “convict”?

Something I found out: Right now, he has been “convicted of felonies,” but is not yet a “felon.” After sentencing, he’ll be a “felon.” And if he is imprisoned, he’ll be a “convict” while he’s in there. (Please forgive this overly serious and pedantic response to your probably offhand question.)

I’ve heard from from law profs that one is not actually a “felon” until the judgment is entered (after sentencing). So, I guess I’ll revisit this post in July.

This is helpful thank you!

"Rising felon."

So …that makes him a felon-to-be. Maybe we should give him a felon shower.

Will it be a golden one?

😂

Merriam-Webster defines it simply as “one who has committed a felony,” so I think you’re still okay.

Definition of FELONwww.merriam-webster.com one who has committed a felony; villain… See the full definition

Yeah. I’m probably being overly law-prof-pedantic.

I’m probably being overly “general usage” pedantic, honestly. 😄 And if there’s one part of academia where it’s in the job description to be really careful about those kinds of distinctions, I suppose you’re in it!

I don’t think this is right. As I understand NY criminal law, one is “convicted” when the jury returns a guilty verdict. And for laws like 18 U.S.C. 922(g) the prohibition on possessing/transporting firearms applies after conviction, not after sentencing. For general usage, “felon” = convicted.

he's been convicted, so he's a convict. he's done a felony, so he's a felon. neither of these words were "inmate".

"Home Alone 2 actor and convicted felon"

Convicted felon and twice impeached former president

If and when he goes to prison, “convict” is appropriate. Until then, I think “convicted felon Donald Trump” is sufficient.

Okay great thank you

The first ordering works better to my ear, it implies that "convicted felon" is the more important qualifier.

Current practice in Oregon is to say "Adults in Custody". Convict is not appropriate as a noun.

Okay good to know

Also (I've been volunteering in the probation department) JII for "justice-involved individual).

That’s an interesting turn of phrase

I think it's meant to remove stigma by not labeling people based on their phase in the system. So no "parolee" or "inmate" or whatever. (I assume it's different if you work in a prison.) Happy to call Trump a convict though.

THIS. Thank you for taking the time to articulate this. Exactly how I feel. Trump is a "convict" but most of the actual justice-involved are victims of the systems in place because of him and those like him.

So… OTiC for Orange Toddler in Custody?

Well, I only work with AiC on fires. I would LOVE to see Trump swinging a pulaski cutting a fire break. It would be hilarious.

"Person of conviction," perhaps?

May I ask why not?

You can also leave out the name since the descriptors are sufficient to uniquely identify him. But you can also add "twice impeached" to super clarify.

Not sure, but I think it's "disgraced former president"

The problem with that is it implies a previous state of grace that he never had

can we just call him a con? Covers lots of ground: he’s a convicted felon, conservative, con man, in contempt of court…

on that, contempt, is he in contempt as a possible charge until sentencing?

Sequence by order of occurrence. Convict isn't appropriate unless a person is in prison, so likely not this year

Ah okay I thought it was just a term for someone convicted; maybe “aspiring convict” can work for now

That said, I think we can always refer to him as "a monumental piece of crap" regardless of his carceral state.

“convict-elect”

Convict-in-training?

Convict is a status one loses; if he survived a term in prison, he will then be an ex-con.

Presumptive convict.

I do like "aspiring convict!"

I think we go with the German-style compound "Schwerverbrecherpräsident", which literally translates "serious crime president".

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Danke

Quality comes before age in adjective order, so I think it’s “convicted felon and former president….”

This seems appropriate as he appears to be overqualified in one area and under qualified in the latter.

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me rn

Second one I should think, also "multiple bankrupt"

Where does confirmed rapist come in?

If you're putting itvin a title it's gotta be legally proven or you can get sued

Like "grandson of kkk member", "reality tv star", and "twice impeached former president"

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