US Supreme Court Immunity Ruling

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary concern of the author regarding the US Supreme Court's ruling on presidential immunity?

  • The ruling is a personal vendetta against Donald Trump.
  • The ruling has significant implications for the 2024 election and democratic institutions. (correct)
  • The ruling undermines the principle of checks and balances in the US government.
  • The ruling has no constitutional basis and is a judicial overreach.

Who is the US special counsel that brought the case against Donald Trump?

  • Elena Kagan
  • John Roberts
  • Jack Smith (correct)
  • Sonia Sotomayor

What is the significance of the year 1789 in the context of the US Supreme Court?

  • It is the year the first presidential election was held.
  • It is the year the US Supreme Court was first founded. (correct)
  • It is the year the Supreme Court gained its current powers.
  • It is the year the US Constitution was ratified.

What is the name of the justice who wrote that the ruling makes a 'mockery of the Constitution'?

<p>Sonia Sotomayor (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How many justices were appointed by Donald Trump?

<p>Three (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome of the Supreme Court's decision regarding Roe v Wade?

<p>The court overturned Roe v Wade. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the justice who leads the nine-member Supreme Court?

<p>John Roberts (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the reaction of many legal commentators when the Supreme Court announced it would hear arguments on presidential immunity?

<p>They were surprised and thought the court of appeals had made a sufficient ruling. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the concern regarding the Supreme Court's handling of the presidential immunity case?

<p>That the court was intentionally delaying the case to benefit Trump's re-election campaign. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the implication of the Supreme Court's ruling on presidential immunity?

<p>That the boundaries of official and unofficial actions are open to interpretation. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the concern regarding the potential consequences of the Supreme Court's ruling?

<p>That it will embolden future presidents to engage in criminality. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What could Trump do if he wins the election in November, according to the Supreme Court's ruling?

<p>He can both order the justice department to drop the charges and pardon himself. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did dissenting Supreme Court justice Brown say about the ruling?

<p>That it was a 'five-alarm fire that threatens to consume democratic self-governance'. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of the Watergate scandal in relation to the Supreme Court's ruling?

<p>It proved that Richard Nixon could have been defended as part of an official act. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was Trump's reaction to the Supreme Court's ruling?

<p>He was triumphant and claimed it was a big win for democracy. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

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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.

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