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Judge sets Trump University hearing for first day of GOP convention

As the Republican National Convention kicks off this summer, political mavens will be focused on the maneuvering in Cleveland, but it might be worth keeping an eye on happenings some 2000 miles away in a federal courtroom in San Diego.

A federal judge announced this week that on the first day of that convention he plans to convene an important hearing on a class-action lawsuit against Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump and his Trump University real estate seminar program.

U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel issued an order Monday setting the July 18 hearing on a move by Trump's lawyers to toss out the Cohen v. Trump case. The judge also plans to take up other motions, including one asking that the case be stripped of its class-action status.

In a series of public appearances in February, Trump said Curiel seemed to be biased against him because the judge "happens to be Spanish" and could be expected to disagree with Trump's strong statements against illegal immigration. The real estate mogul said he might move to disqualify Curiel, but no such motion has been made and Trump's attorney did not raise any issues about the judge during a hearing last month. (Curiel, who was born in Indiana, is of Latino origin.)

Curiel is also considering when to set a trial in a related case involving people in three particular states who paid up to $35,000 to take part in the Trump University program. There has been discussion of a trial in June or August, but at last month's hearing Curiel seemed uncomfortable with the idea of a jury trial during the campaign if Trump remains an active candidate. Another hearing on that scheduling issue is set for next week.

A state judge in New York held a hearing Tuesday in yet another case relating to the now-defunct Trump University education program. The judge rejected a bid by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman for an immediate ruling in the state's favor. The decision appeared to clear the way for a trial in the coming months, although a pending request from Trump's side for another appeal could forestall that.

Trials in any of the cases have the potential to force Trump off the campaign trail and onto the witness stand. And even if he is not present, they would be a significant distraction for the potential GOP nominee.

The lawsuits generally claim that Trump misrepresented that his Trump University instructors were handpicked by him and that they had extensive background in real-estate. In fact, Trump has acknowledged he didn't know or meet most of the teachers. One was a convicted felon. Trump has said at least one instructor lied about his background. The New York case also argues that the Trump University name violated state law because it was not a bona fide university.

Trump and his lawyers have argued that any misrepresentations were immaterial, because the students got valuable information and mentorships from the program. Trump also says some of the plaintiffs took part in videos praising their instructors, but are now claiming to be dissatisfied. Some of the former students said they felt pressured to endorse the program, since they were hoping for real-estate investing help from the same instructors.

