SCOTUS to Hear Trump's Immunity Appeal

SCOTUS to Hear Trump's Immunity Appeal
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The Facts

  • The conservative-majority US Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear Republican former Pres. Donald Trump's claims of immunity from prosecution for acts he committed as president.

  • SCOTUS set the week of April 22 to hear oral arguments, with a decision expected by late June. Last year, it rejected a plea from US Dept. of Justice Special Counsel Jack Smith to bypass the US Court of Appeals and hear the matter immediately.


The Spin

Pro-Trump narrative

This crucial case — which could determine the future of presidents to do their job free of fear of prosecution or coercive tactics by political opponents — is being fast-tracked to SCOTUS. The sides have just a few weeks to prepare their cases before the highest court in the land hears their arguments and then rules on this major issue.

Anti-Trump narrative

SCOTUS could hear this case today or tomorrow, but instead, it's slow-walking it, in effect dangerously granting Trump his immunity. This shouldn't be a surprise considering the conservative majority was shaped by Trump's three confirmed nominees. Now this case is unlikely to be resolved before the election, leaving voters without all the information they need and possibly leading to Trump killing it in his second term.

Nerd narrative

There's a 10% chance that a dispute that determines the outcome of the 2024 US presidential election will be decided by the US Supreme Court in 2024 or 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.


Public figures in this story


Establishment split

CRITICAL

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