Supreme Court Grants Substantial Immunity to Trump

Donald Trump on Jan. 6, 2021. Credit…Pete Marovich for The New York Times

The Supreme Court ruling: The Supreme Court made a significant decision yesterday, granting Donald Trump substantial immunity from prosecution related to his alleged attempts to overturn the last election. This ruling is seen as a major statement on presidential power with potential long-term repercussions. The full ruling can be accessed for further details.

Ruling Details: In a 6 to 3 ruling divided along partisan lines, the Court distinguished between a president’s official acts, such as policy changes or military decisions, and private conduct. Chief Justice John Roberts, speaking for the majority, emphasized the necessity of broad immunity for official conduct to safeguard “an energetic, independent executive.” However, the dissenting liberal justices cautioned that the ruling could erode democracy by granting excessive immunity, essentially placing the president “above the law.”

Next Steps: As a result of the ruling, Trump’s trial on charges of election interference is likely to be postponed until after this year’s election. The case will be returned to a lower court, which will determine whether Trump’s actions were undertaken in an official or private capacity. If Trump secures re-election, he could potentially instruct the Justice Department to dismiss the charges.

Biden’s Response: President Biden reacted to the ruling, expressing concerns that it could empower Trump to act with few constraints if he were to be re-elected, suggesting that there would be “virtually no limits” on Trump’s actions.