Special counsel Jack Smith asked the justices to short-circuit the usual appellate process and quickly settle the question of presidential criminal immunity.

The Supreme Court on Friday said it will not fast-track consideration of Donald Trump’s claim that he has immunity from prosecution for actions he took as president, a question crucial to whether he can be put on trial for plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

The court’s one-sentence order, from which there were no noted dissents, means a federal appeals court in Washington will be the first to review a district judge’s ruling earlier this month rejecting Trump’s claim of immunity. Arguments are scheduled for Jan. 9.

Special counsel Jack Smith had asked the justices to short-circuit the normal appellate process and quickly settle the question of presidential criminal immunity, which the Supreme Court previously has not been called upon to resolve. He said public interest required intervention now, so the federal election-obstruction trial of Trump — the front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination — could proceed as scheduled in March.

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  • m0darn
    6·
    6 months ago

    I think it’s more likely that SCOTUS will wind up ruling that Trump is indeed disqualified under the 14th amendment so they can finally get him out of the way of the more serious candidates that will do what they want.

    And also protect their majority in the court by appearing unbiased.