Trump hush money case hearing, bond deadline in civil fraud case

Judge Juan Merchan is photographed in his chambers in New York on March 14. Seth Wenig/APDonald Trump will face a seasoned judge at the hearing today who is no stranger to the former president’s orbit.Judge Juan Merchan has sentenced Trump’s close confidant Allen Weisselberg to prison, presided over the Trump Organization tax fraud trial and overseen former adviser Steve Bannon’s criminal fraud case.Merchan has been described by observers as a “tough” judge, yet one who is fair, no matter who is before him.Here’s what to know:Merchan launched his legal career in 1994 when he…