Sonia Sotomayor: Supreme Court just gave presidents power to assassinate political rivals
5 months, 3 weeks ago

Sonia Sotomayor: Supreme Court just gave presidents power to assassinate political rivals

Raw Story  

The Supreme Court justices who dissented to Monday's ruling on former President Donald Trump's presidential immunity claim called it a mockery of the Constitution that reshapes the institution of the presidency. Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented to Chief Justice John Roberts ruling that Trump was entitled to absolute immunity for actions carried out in his official capacity as president — but not all presidential actions were official. "Today’s decision to grant former Presidents criminal immunity reshapes the institution of the Presidency," Sotomayor wrote. The Supreme Court spent two months deliberating the presumptive Republican nominee's argument against the federal election interference case — raising concerns of deliberate delay as Trump could kill the case if he reclaims the White House.

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History of this topic

As Trump grasps unprecedented power, the Supreme Court’s decision on presidential immunity looms large
1 month, 2 weeks ago

As Trump grasps unprecedented power, the Supreme Court’s decision on presidential immunity looms large

CNN  

CNN — The roiling debate over the strength of democratic restraints to keep Donald Trump in check when he returns to the White House in January has put a renewed focus on a divisive Supreme Court ruling that some fear could enable his worst impulses. Taken together, the political and legal alignment will usher Trump into a second term with …

Huge Supreme Court docs leak exposes chief justice meddling in Trump's January 6 and election cases - read his memos
3 months, 1 week ago

Huge Supreme Court docs leak exposes chief justice meddling in Trump's January 6 and election cases - read his memos

Daily Mail  

Chief Justice John Roberts strong-armed his fellow Supreme Court judges into allowing him the key role in cases involving Donald Trump, leaked memos reveal. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts with Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor The court's decision on presidential immunity was a hammer blow to judicial attempts at prosecuting Donald Trump over his role in the January 6 attack …

Legal scholars warn SCOTUS could "manipulate" immunity definition to torpedo new Trump indictment
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Legal scholars warn SCOTUS could "manipulate" immunity definition to torpedo new Trump indictment

Salon  

The Supreme Court's lack of clarity in its presidential immunity ruling's definition of "official" conduct leaves room for former President Donald Trump to fight the refiled indictment alleging he conspired to thwart the results of the 2020 presidential election. Smith's new indictment again includes four felony charges against Trump but excluded evidence concerning Trump's official conduct in office, including the …

How Kamala Harris Can Upend the Supreme Court’s Horrible Immunity Ruling in One Move
54 years, 11 months ago

How Kamala Harris Can Upend the Supreme Court’s Horrible Immunity Ruling in One Move

Slate  

The Supreme Court’s presidential immunity decision is a mistake. If Congress can’t regulate a presidential power, Congress can’t make acts around that power “criminal.” This is the core of presidential immunity: the substantive limits on Congress’ power to regulate the president. No doubt, the court affirmed, there is no immunity for unofficial acts, or acts beyond the “outer perimeter of …

I wrote books on Trump's crimes — but did not see the Supreme Court immunity ruling coming
5 months, 1 week ago

I wrote books on Trump's crimes — but did not see the Supreme Court immunity ruling coming

Raw Story  

While writing Criminology on Trump and Indicting the 45th President: Boss Trump, the GOP, and What We Can Do About the Threat to American Democracy, I had never imagined that even this extreme Supreme Court supermajority would rule in favor of Donald Trump’s quest for presidential immunity. More importantly, the justices’ legal chicanery has retroactively allowed a former president and …

WSJ editorial argues Supreme Court immunity ruling 'will serve as a restraint' on Trump ​
5 months, 2 weeks ago

WSJ editorial argues Supreme Court immunity ruling 'will serve as a restraint' on Trump ​

Raw Story  

As pundits, legal experts, former prosecutors, and lawmakers openly fear the downfall of democracy following the Supreme Court's ruling on presidential immunity, The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board on Friday boldly claimed the ruling doesn't help former President Donald Trump, it restrains him. Read also: Trump's immunity win will 'backfire' on him in November: CNN analyst Former Prosecutor Glenn Kirschner …

How the Supreme Court’s immunity ruling opened the door for a shocking question: Can presidents kill their rivals?
5 months, 2 weeks ago

How the Supreme Court’s immunity ruling opened the door for a shocking question: Can presidents kill their rivals?

The Independent  

Can a president order a rival’s assassination and get away with it? In a dissent joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, Justice Sonia Sotomayor warned that the court had created “a law-free zone around the president, upsetting the status quo that has existed since the founding.” Supreme Court grants Trump immunity for 'official' acts in landmark ruling …

Fearmongering? A troubling aspect behind John Roberts' presidential immunity decision
5 months, 3 weeks ago

Fearmongering? A troubling aspect behind John Roberts' presidential immunity decision

Raw Story  

Like many of you, I’ve been going over Chief Justice John Roberts’ presidential immunity decision, trying to understand the distinction it sets out between “official” acts of a president, which are immune from prosecution, and “unofficial” acts, which are not immune. Having served in the Justice Department soon after Richard Nixon sought to use the department to go after the …

Supreme Court opinion conferring broad immunity could embolden Trump as he seeks to return to power
5 months, 3 weeks ago

Supreme Court opinion conferring broad immunity could embolden Trump as he seeks to return to power

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — In her dissent from a Supreme Court opinion that afforded former President Donald Trump broad immunity, Justice Sonia Sotomayor pondered the potential doomsday consequences: A president could pocket a bribe for a pardon, stage a military coup to retain power, order the killing of a rival by the Navy’s SEAL Team Six — and be protected from prosecution …

The Assassination Hypothetical Isn’t Even the Scariest Part of the Supreme Court Immunity Ruling
5 months, 3 weeks ago

The Assassination Hypothetical Isn’t Even the Scariest Part of the Supreme Court Immunity Ruling

Slate  

The Supreme Court’s decision on presidential immunity is a catastrophe for American constitutional order. Roberts then divides presidential conduct into three, wholly new classes: exercises of “core constitutional powers,” “official act,” and “unofficial acts.” Exercises of “core” presidential powers garner “absolute immunity” from prosecution. Analysis of the first portion of the court’s immunity structure—exercises of “core” presidential powers now made …

The Supreme Court Assumes Joe Biden Won’t Abuse Its Horrific Immunity Ruling
5 months, 3 weeks ago

The Supreme Court Assumes Joe Biden Won’t Abuse Its Horrific Immunity Ruling

Slate  

This is part of Opinionpalooza, Slate’s coverage of the major decisions from the Supreme Court this June. Prior to the oral argument in Trump v. United States, we wrote in Slate that only the most cynical could believe that the Supreme Court of the United States would hold that a president can use his official powers to violate generally applicable …

What does Trump’s Supreme Court immunity decision mean?
5 months, 3 weeks ago

What does Trump’s Supreme Court immunity decision mean?

Al Jazeera  

On Monday, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that Donald Trump is immune from prosecution for acts he committed within his constitutional powers as president. Described by Trump as a “BIG WIN” on Truth Social, a social media platform owned by the Republican leader, but as a “dangerous precedent” by President Joe Biden, here is more about the …

Supreme Court grants Trump immunity for ‘official’ acts in landmark ruling that will delay trial
5 months, 3 weeks ago

Supreme Court grants Trump immunity for ‘official’ acts in landmark ruling that will delay trial

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The court’s conservative majority granted him “presumptive immunity” for actions that the former president …

Sotomayor’s dissent: A president should not be a ‘king above the law’
5 months, 3 weeks ago

Sotomayor’s dissent: A president should not be a ‘king above the law’

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — In an unsparing dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor said the Supreme Court allowed a president to become a “king above the law” in its ruling that limited the scope of criminal charges against former President Donald Trump for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol and efforts to overturn the election. She was joined …

'Justice Karen': MAGA revolts over Amy Coney Barrett’s Trump immunity disagreement
5 months, 3 weeks ago

'Justice Karen': MAGA revolts over Amy Coney Barrett’s Trump immunity disagreement

Raw Story  

The U.S. Supreme Court Monday handed down its anxiously awaited decision on former President Donald Trump's claim that he enjoys absolute immunity from prosecution in special counsel Jack Smith's federal election interference case. Justice Amy Coney Barrett was part of the GOP majority in the ruling, which found that immunity was justified — but only for core official duties. In …

Trump's immunity win will 'backfire' on him in November: CNN analyst
5 months, 3 weeks ago

Trump's immunity win will 'backfire' on him in November: CNN analyst

Raw Story  

Former President Donald Trump's legal situation got a big boost with today's Supreme Court ruling that lower courts will have to exclude from prosecution any official acts that may have been part of his scheme to overturn the 2020 presidential election — but his political situation may have taken a hit, argued CNN commentator and former presidential adviser Van Jones. …

'Expect a visit': Chilling words from Trump rep raise specter of political assassination
5 months, 3 weeks ago

'Expect a visit': Chilling words from Trump rep raise specter of political assassination

Raw Story  

A young activist interpreted Justice Sonia Sotomayor's chilling warning that the Supreme Court just authorized presidents to conduct political assassinations on social media — and received an equally chilling reply from former President Donald Trump's spokesperson. "According to the Supreme Court, Biden could now send in Seal Team 6 to take all of them out," wrote Harry Sisson. This disturbing …

'Sophomoric and foolish': Harvard Law professor rips into chief justice's immunity logic
5 months, 3 weeks ago

'Sophomoric and foolish': Harvard Law professor rips into chief justice's immunity logic

Raw Story  

Harvard University's Constitutional law professor Laurence Tribe unleashed a ferocious attack on the chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court after the ruling in Donald Trump's immunity case Monday. Chief Justice John Roberts and five other justices ruled that a president has immunity for core official actions carried out while in office, though what constituted official was for a lower …

Don’t Believe John Roberts. The Supreme Court Just Made the President a King.
5 months, 3 weeks ago

Don’t Believe John Roberts. The Supreme Court Just Made the President a King.

Slate  

This is part of Opinionpalooza, Slate’s coverage of the major decisions from the Supreme Court this June. As Justice Sonia Sotomayor put it in her terrified and terrifying dissent, “the President is now a king above the law.” Trump v. United States, Monday’s decision, has no basis in the Constitution as written. Fear of criminal prosecution, Roberts warned, could interfere …

Editorial: Trump immunity ruling has troubling implications for the election and democracy
5 months, 3 weeks ago

Editorial: Trump immunity ruling has troubling implications for the election and democracy

LA Times  

A demonstrator makes his views known outside the Supreme Court in April 2024 as the justices prepare to hear arguments over whether Donald Trump is immune from prosecution in a case charging him with plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. In ruling that Donald Trump and other former presidents enjoy immunity from prosecution for “official acts,” …

How Supreme Court’s immunity ruling ‘transforms’ US presidency
5 months, 3 weeks ago

How Supreme Court’s immunity ruling ‘transforms’ US presidency

Al Jazeera  

Experts say shielding official presidential action from prosecution undermines rule of law and enables abuse of power. Washington, DC – The Supreme Court’s ruling on the scope of presidential immunity will “transform” the United States government, experts say, warning that the decision may undermine the rule of law in the country. But by deeming Trump’s conversations with agency officials to …

Supreme Court gives Trump broad immunity from prosecution — for the past and perhaps future
5 months, 3 weeks ago

Supreme Court gives Trump broad immunity from prosecution — for the past and perhaps future

LA Times  

Supreme Court justices voted 6-3 to uphold former President Trump’s claim that he was immune from all criminal charges related to his official actions while he was in the White House. He said even Trump’s lawyers appeared to agree that a scheme to “submit fraudulent slates of presidential electors” was private and not part of the president’s official duties. “Today’s …

Trump has immunity for official acts, US Supreme Court rules
5 months, 3 weeks ago

Trump has immunity for official acts, US Supreme Court rules

Al Jazeera  

Court rules former presidents are shielded from prosecution for actions taken within their constitutional authority, as opposed to a private capacity. The United States Supreme Court has for the first time recognised that former presidents have immunity from prosecution for certain actions taken in office, as it threw out a judicial decision rejecting Donald Trump’s bid to shield himself from …

Supreme Court says Trump has absolute immunity for core acts only
5 months, 3 weeks ago

Supreme Court says Trump has absolute immunity for core acts only

NPR  

Supreme Court says Trump has absolute immunity for core acts only toggle caption Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images In a historic, consequential, and controversial decision on Monday, the Supreme Court granted substantial immunity from prosecution to former president Donald Trump on election subversion charges. In a brief statement to reporters on Monday, President Biden said that today’s Supreme Court decision undermines the …

Supreme Court immunity arguments: The court just showed how and why it will let Donald Trump get away with it.
7 months, 4 weeks ago

Supreme Court immunity arguments: The court just showed how and why it will let Donald Trump get away with it.

Slate  

For three long years, Supreme Court watchers mollified themselves with vague promises that when the rubber hit the road, even the ultraconservative Federalist Society justices of the Roberts court would put democracy before party whenever they were finally confronted with the legal effort to hold Donald Trump accountable for Jan. 6. These justices fear that it is Trump’s prosecution for …

'Fundamentally evil': Sotomayor rips attorney who says Trump could assassinate rivals
7 months, 4 weeks ago

'Fundamentally evil': Sotomayor rips attorney who says Trump could assassinate rivals

Raw Story  

John Sauer, an attorney for Donald Trump, told the U.S. Supreme Court that his client could have legally assassinated his rivals. "There are some things that are so fundamentally evil that they have to be protected against," Justice Sonia Sotomayor noted regarding presidential immunity. "If the president decides that his rival is a corrupt person and he orders the military …

Supreme Court appears skeptical of blanket immunity for a former president
7 months, 4 weeks ago

Supreme Court appears skeptical of blanket immunity for a former president

NPR  

Supreme Court appears skeptical of blanket immunity for a former president Enlarge this image toggle caption Bloomberg via Getty Images Bloomberg via Getty Images A majority of the Supreme Court appeared skeptical of granting a president blanket immunity from prosecution for criminal acts. Sponsor Message The question of presidential immunity from criminal prosecution after leaving office has never been decided …

Supreme Court majority leans in favor of limited immunity for Trump as an ex-president
7 months, 4 weeks ago

Supreme Court majority leans in favor of limited immunity for Trump as an ex-president

LA Times  

The Supreme Court heard arguments Thursday over whether Donald Trump is immune from prosecution in a case charging him with plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. The Supreme Court’s conservative justices said Thursday they agree a former president should be shielded from prosecution for his truly official acts while in office, but not for private schemes …

What to listen for during Supreme Court arguments on Donald Trump and presidential immunity
8 months ago

What to listen for during Supreme Court arguments on Donald Trump and presidential immunity

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court hears arguments Thursday over whether Donald Trump is immune from prosecution in a case charging him with plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Trump’s team has repeatedly drawn attention to a 1982 case, Nixon v. Fitzgerald, in which the Supreme Court held that a former president cannot be sued in civil …

Legal expert identifies "three very important clues" on how Supreme Court may rule on Trump immunity
9 months, 3 weeks ago

Legal expert identifies "three very important clues" on how Supreme Court may rule on Trump immunity

Salon  

The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments in April in a significant case determining whether former President Donald Trump is immune from federal criminal prosecution in the Jan. 6, 2021, election interference case against him. The Supreme Court indicated in a one-page order that during the week of April 22, it will address a legal question that …

US Supreme Court will hear Donald Trump's immunity claim in Jan 6 Capitol Riot case
9 months, 3 weeks ago

US Supreme Court will hear Donald Trump's immunity claim in Jan 6 Capitol Riot case

Hindustan Times  

On Wednesday, the US Supreme Court announced that it would hear the case of Donald Trump, who claims that he has absolute immunity from prosecution in the criminal investigation into his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. The Supreme Court agreed on Feb. 28, 2024, to decide whether former President Donald Trump can be prosecuted on charges he interfered …

Supreme Court will hear Trump’s claim of immunity from Jan. 6 prosecution, delaying his trial
9 months, 3 weeks ago

Supreme Court will hear Trump’s claim of immunity from Jan. 6 prosecution, delaying his trial

LA Times  

The Supreme Court announced Wednesday it will hear arguments and issue a decision on whether former President Trump is immune from prosecution for the Jan. 6 mob attack on the U.S. Capitol. A president’s alleged criminal scheme to overturn an election and thwart the peaceful transfer of power to his successor should be the last place to recognize a novel …

Column: Without even ruling on Trump’s immunity claim, the Supreme Court handed him a huge victory
9 months, 3 weeks ago

Column: Without even ruling on Trump’s immunity claim, the Supreme Court handed him a huge victory

LA Times  

Given the Supreme Court’s possible responses to Donald Trump’s appeal of the D.C. Circuit’s denial of his claim of immunity from prosecution, the justices’ decision Wednesday has to be counted as a gift to the former president. On the other hand, the Supreme Court’s decision does not ultimately augur a reversal of the D.C. Circuit’s resounding rejection of Trump’s immunity …

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