The recent Supreme Court ruling has all but guaranteed that former President Donald Trump’s trial will not occur before the 2024 election. The Court’s decision on Monday granted Trump immunity for official acts during his presidency, ensuring that the legal process will extend past November.
CNN’s legal expert Elie Honig confirmed this outcome, stating there is “0% chance” the trial will proceed before the election. The ruling emphasized presidential immunity for actions taken in office, which complicates the legal timeline significantly. This decision returns the case to the district court, initiating a lengthy appeals process.
Honig highlighted that the Supreme Court’s decision allows for appeals on the district court’s determinations regarding official versus unofficial acts. “The Court has made it clear that any ruling by the district judge on what is considered official or unofficial can be appealed before trial,” he said. This procedural complexity makes a pre-election trial date impossible.
Initially, District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan had set a trial date for March. However, the Supreme Court’s recent ruling has upended that schedule. Judge Chutkan had previously dismissed an attempt by Trump to have the case thrown out, but now the timeline is uncertain.
The Court’s opinion stated, “Under our constitutional structure of separated powers, the nature of Presidential power entitles a former President to absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for actions within his conclusive and preclusive constitutional authority.” The distinction between official and unofficial acts will be pivotal in the continued legal battles.
With this ruling, the trial against Trump will be delayed indefinitely, much to the dismay of those who hoped for a resolution before the election. As the legal processes unfold, the case will not be resolved in time to impact the 2024 election, leaving voters without a final verdict on these charges.
