US Supreme Court Rules Limited Immunity For Trump, Decision May Push Trial Beyond Presidential Election

The US Supreme Court granted limited immunity to Donald Trump concerning his alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results, delaying the trial from occurring before the 2024 election.

File photo of former US president Donald Trump

In a landmark decision, the United States Supreme Court has ruled that former presidents possess some immunity from prosecution, thereby delaying the criminal case against former US president Donald Trump concerning his alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. The ruling significantly impacts the timeline of the trial, potentially preventing it from occurring before the November 2024 election.

In a 6-3 decision, the justices remanded Trump’s case to the trial court to assess the remaining charges in special counsel Jack Smith’s indictment, news agency AP reported. Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the majority, stated, “Under our constitutional structure of separated powers, the nature of presidential power entitles a former president to absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for actions within his conclusive and preclusive constitutional authority. And he is entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts. There is no immunity for unofficial acts.”

Justice Sonia Sotomayor delivered a dissenting judgment, underscoring the ruling’s profound implications for the presidency. “Today’s decision to grant former presidents criminal immunity reshapes the institution of the presidency. It makes a mockery of the principle, foundational to our Constitution and system of government, that no man is above the law,” she asserted, as quoted by AP. Sotomayor described the court's protection for presidents as “just as bad as it sounds, and it is baseless.”

Donald Trump Hails US Supreme Court Verdict As 'Big Win For Our Constitution And Democracy'

Trump, who has maintained his innocence and denounced the prosecutions as politically motivated, celebrated the decision on his social media platform, stating, “BIG WIN FOR OUR CONSTITUTION AND DEMOCRACY. PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!” Meanwhile, special counsel Jack Smith’s office declined to comment on the ruling.

The US Supreme Court’s decision negates part of the indictment, declaring Trump “absolutely immune” from prosecution for alleged discussions with the Justice Department, as per AP's report. Additionally, the court ruled that Trump is “at least presumptively immune” from charges of pressuring Vice President Mike Pence to reject the certification of Joe Biden’s electoral victory on January 6, 2021. However, Chief Justice Roberts noted that prosecutors could still attempt to argue that Trump’s pressure on Pence should remain part of the case.

This ruling concludes the court’s term, arriving over two months after oral arguments were heard—a notable delay compared to other significant high court cases involving the presidency, such as the Watergate tapes case, the report stated.

Immunity Win For Trump, But Legal Battle Far From Over

Earlier this year, Trump became the first former president convicted of a felony in a New York court for falsifying business records related to a hush money payment during the 2016 election. He faces three other indictments: two federal cases led by Smith concerning his efforts to overturn the 2020 election and the mishandling of classified documents, and a separate case in Georgia regarding his actions post-2020 defeat.

Should Trump’s Washington trial not proceed before the 2024 election and he does not return to the White House, it is anticipated that he would stand trial shortly after. Conversely, a victory could see him appoint an attorney general who might seek to dismiss the federal prosecutions or potentially pardon himself, although this would not apply to the state conviction in New York.

The case was heard by a US Supreme Court featuring three Trump appointees—Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh. Questions regarding impartiality arose for Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito. Thomas’ wife, Ginni, attended the January 6 rally, and Alito faced scrutiny over flags displayed at his residences.

The trial, initially scheduled for March 4, had already faced delays prior to the US Supreme Court’s involvement. Lower courts had unanimously ruled against Trump’s immunity claims, emphasising that presidential office does not grant lifelong immunity from prosecution. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan stated, “Former Presidents enjoy no special conditions on their federal criminal liability. Defendant may be subject to federal investigation, indictment, prosecution, conviction, and punishment for any criminal acts undertaken while in office.”