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The Supreme Court will hear arguments on April 25 on Donald Trump's claim that presidential immunity should shield him from being charged in the federal election interference case, the Court announced Wednesday.
The Context
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has charged Trump with attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election results, culminating in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, but he has said he should not face charges because of his presidential immunity. The argument has been questioned by legal experts, with a federal appeals court panel previously rejecting Trump's claim.
What We Know
The Court previously said it would hear arguments into the former president's immunity claim during the week of April 22. On Wednesday, the court released its schedule for that week, showing that arguments will be heard toward the end of the week, on Thursday, April 25.
A DOJ probe, led by special counsel Jack Smith, focused on Trump's actions leading up to and during the January 6 assault on the Capitol, when a group of his supporters violently protested the election, which Trump has claimed was stolen despite a lack of any evidence.
Smith's investigation also looked into alleged efforts to submit false slates of pro-Trump electors to the Electoral College. Indicted on four felony counts, Trump has pleaded not guilty to all the charges and maintains that he is innocent of any wrongdoing. He has accused federal prosecutors of targeting him for political purposes.
The trial in the election interference case, which is being overseen by Judge Tanya Chutkan, was expected to begin March 4. But The Washington Post reported last month that the trial date no longer appears in a public calendar at the federal court in Washington, D.C.
Smith has urged the Supreme Court to quickly take up the immunity claim, but the justices ruled last year that they would not do so until after the appeals court made its ruling.
The timing for the trial has brought some backlash, with critics saying it should begin as soon as possible. Some Trump critics have warned that if the trial is not completed before the November election, he could order all federal charges against him dropped if elected.
Views
Many political and legal observers turned to X (formerly Twitter) to share their reactions to the new date for the oral arguments.
"NEWS: In "why rush?" news, SCOTUS does nothing to the current argument calendar and schedules the Trump immunity case *not* for Monday, April 22, but, instead, for Thursday, April 25," wrote journalist Chris Geidner.
"On Thursday April 25, the Supreme Court will hear arguments on trumps presidential immunity. I guess they just couldn't drag it out any further. This is what you get when 6 justices are paid to jump for one party," wrote X user @katherineOma.
Commentator Ed Krassenstein wrote: "This could potentially mean that Trump's federal cases could be heard before the November 2024 elections. Everyone should hope that this is all resolved before the election so that voters can make a more informed decision."
What's Next
After the Supreme Court hears the immunity argument on April 25, it will ultimately decide whether Trump's trial in Smith's federal election interference case can proceed.
Legal experts have cast doubt on Trump's argument. Harvard law professor and legal analyst Laurence Tribe previously told Newsweek there is "zero chance that the Supreme Court will rule in Trump's favor on the merits of his immunity claim."
Update 3/6/24, 2:41 and 3:03 p.m. ET: This story was updated with additional information and background.
About the writer
Andrew Stanton is a Newsweek weekend reporter based in Maine. His role is reporting on U.S. politics and social issues. ... Read more