15 Questions
What is the primary concern of the author regarding the US Supreme Court's ruling on presidential immunity?
The ruling has significant implications for the 2024 election and democratic institutions.
Who is the US special counsel that brought the case against Donald Trump?
Jack Smith
What is the significance of the year 1789 in the context of the US Supreme Court?
It is the year the US Supreme Court was first founded.
What is the name of the justice who wrote that the ruling makes a 'mockery of the Constitution'?
Sonia Sotomayor
How many justices were appointed by Donald Trump?
Three
What was the outcome of the Supreme Court's decision regarding Roe v Wade?
The court overturned Roe v Wade.
What is the name of the justice who leads the nine-member Supreme Court?
John Roberts
What was the reaction of many legal commentators when the Supreme Court announced it would hear arguments on presidential immunity?
They were surprised and thought the court of appeals had made a sufficient ruling.
What was the concern regarding the Supreme Court's handling of the presidential immunity case?
That the court was intentionally delaying the case to benefit Trump's re-election campaign.
What is the implication of the Supreme Court's ruling on presidential immunity?
That the boundaries of official and unofficial actions are open to interpretation.
What is the concern regarding the potential consequences of the Supreme Court's ruling?
That it will embolden future presidents to engage in criminality.
What could Trump do if he wins the election in November, according to the Supreme Court's ruling?
He can both order the justice department to drop the charges and pardon himself.
What did dissenting Supreme Court justice Brown say about the ruling?
That it was a 'five-alarm fire that threatens to consume democratic self-governance'.
What was the significance of the Watergate scandal in relation to the Supreme Court's ruling?
It proved that Richard Nixon could have been defended as part of an official act.
What was Trump's reaction to the Supreme Court's ruling?
He was triumphant and claimed it was a big win for democracy.
Study Notes
US Supreme Court Immunity Ruling
- The US Supreme Court has made a controversial judgment on presidential immunity, which could affect the 2024 election and democratic institutions.
- The ruling states that former presidents are entitled to some degree of immunity from criminal prosecution.
The Case
- The case was brought by US special counsel Jack Smith, alleging that Donald Trump attempted to subvert US democracy by interfering in the 2020 election.
- The ruling fell along ideological lines, 6-3, with Justices Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, and Ketanji Brown strongly dissenting.
Impact on Democracy
- The ruling could embolden future presidents to use the office for personal gain and engage in criminality.
- It could also allow Trump to order the Justice Department to drop charges or try to pardon himself if he wins the election in November.
- There are concerns that Trump could appoint a loyalist attorney general and weaponize the justice system against his opponents.
Criticisms
- Justice Sotomayor wrote that the ruling makes a "mockery of the Constitution".
- Justice Brown wrote that this is a "five-alarm fire that threatens to consume democratic self-governance".
- President Joe Biden stated that the Supreme Court judgment is incredibly consequential for US democracy.
Background
- The Supreme Court had previously been seen as an impartial guardrail to protect American citizens from autocratic power grabs.
- However, since Trump reshaped the court with the appointment of three ideologically conservative justices, several long-time iron-clad supreme court decisions have been upended.
Trump's Appointments
- Trump appointed Neil Gorsuch in 2017, Brett Kavanaugh in 2018, and Amy Coney Barrett in October 2020.
- These appointments have led to a shift in the court's decisions, including the overturning of Roe v Wade.
The US Supreme Court has made a significant and controversial judgment on presidential immunity, which could impact the 2024 election and democratic institutions.
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