The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that former President Donald Trump possesses partial immunity from criminal charges related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results.
The ruling, which splits along ideological lines with a 6-3 vote, represents a significant legal victory for Trump, effectively ensuring that a trial will not occur before the November 2024 election.
The Court found that the federal appeals court was too dismissive of Trump’s immunity arguments.
For the first time, the Supreme Court acknowledged that former presidents could be shielded from prosecution for certain official acts carried out while in office.
Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the majority, explained that “The president is not above the law. But Congress may not criminalize the president’s conduct in carrying out the responsibilities of the Executive Branch under the Constitution.”
The ruling did not go so far as to dismiss the indictment altogether, as Trump had hoped.
However, the decision’s timing is pivotal as it narrows the opportunity for Special Counsel Jack Smith to bring Trump before a jury in Washington, D.C., before the November 5 election.
The ruling now returns the case to the lower courts to determine which specific allegations are protected under the presidential immunity doctrine.
This process will likely extend beyond the election, leaving Trump facing only one of four criminal cases against him before voters head to the polls.
Trump was previously convicted in a New York state court on May 30 for falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 election.
His Washington trial, related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election, has been on hold pending the Supreme Court’s decision on his immunity claim.
The dissenting opinion, penned by Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson, criticized the majority for granting such broad immunity.
They argued that the decision undermines the principle that no one, including the president, is above the law.
The decision underscores the ongoing legal battles facing Trump as he campaigns for the 2024 presidential election.
While this ruling may provide a temporary respite, it also raises critical questions about the extent of legal protections afforded to former presidents and the balance of power within the U.S. government.
