Donald Trump’s lawyers have petitioned the Supreme Court to hear a case that could grant him blanket immunity from prosecution, presenting a “momentous and historic” constitutional questions in the process. If accepted by the court, the case could set a precedent that would effectively immunize the president and those acting under his executive authority from criminal prosecution at the federal level.
The lawyers argue that the case raises constitutional issues that need immediate resolution, asking the court to grant “extraordinary relief” on the grounds that the burden imposed on Trump as the sitting president prohibits him from receiving a fair trial in a lower court. Such an outcome, if accepted, would be unprecedented in United States history. It would essentially provide blanket immunity to the president from any and all criminal prosecution.
Although a ruling in the president’s favor would be unprecedented, it would not be unforeseen. The president and his administration have already faced numerous civil suits, several of which have ended in his favor. These outcomes have raised serious questions regarding the president’s broad immunity from prosecution.
If the Supreme Court agrees to hear the case, it will likely be one of the most widely publicized and discussed proceedings of the court’s history. This is in part due to the high-stakes implications of a ruling in the president’s favor.
The president’s lawyers have presented a novel and potentially momentous question to the court that could have ramifications for both the current administration and future presidencies. The Supreme Court has not yet indicated whether it will hear the case, but the case could certainly set a precedent that would shape the future of executive power.
