The US Supreme Court has agreed to hear former President Donald Trump’s appeal of a lower court ruling that rejected his claim of presidential immunity from criminal prosecution for his alleged role in the January 6, 2024, election interference case.
The justices announced on Wednesday that they would review the decision of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, which upheld the authority of special counsel Jack Smith to pursue the charges against Trump.
Smith, who was appointed by Congress to investigate the former president’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election results, has accused Trump of conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and incitement of insurrection, among other crimes.
Trump has argued that he is immune from prosecution for any actions he took as president, even if they were unlawful or abusive. He has also claimed that the special counsel’s appointment was unconstitutional and that the case against him is politically motivated.
The Supreme Court’s intervention means that Trump’s trial, which was scheduled to begin on March 4, 2024, will be postponed until the justices issue their ruling, which is expected by June 2024.
The delay could have significant implications for the 2024 presidential election, in which Trump is widely expected to run for a second term. If the Supreme Court rules in his favor, the charges against him would be dismissed and he would avoid a potentially damaging trial. If the court rules against him, he would face the prospect of being convicted and sentenced before the election, which could hurt his chances of winning or even disqualify him from running.
The case is one of the most high-profile and controversial matters before the Supreme Court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority that includes three justices appointed by Trump. The court has already heard another case involving Trump’s eligibility for the 2024 ballot, which challenges his disqualification by a federal law that bars candidates who have been impeached twice by the House of Representatives. The court has not yet announced its decision on that case.
