Washington, DC: The US Supreme Court ruled on Monday that former President Donald Trump is entitled to a degree of immunity from prosecution related to actions taken while in office. The 6-3 decision, is expected to delay the upcoming trial for Trump’s alleged conspiracy to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
The case, widely anticipated as one of the most significant this year, overturned a federal appeals court’s February ruling that denied Trump immunity for alleged crimes aimed at overturning the 2020 election results. Special counsel Jack Smith had strongly advocated for preventing Trump from delaying legal proceedings, a cornerstone of the former president’s legal defence strategy.
Earlier on May 30, a New York court convicted Trump on 34 felony charges of falsifying business records to cover up a sex scandal during the closing stages of the 2016 presidential campaign. His sentencing is scheduled for July 11. This historic conviction marks Trump as the first former US president to be found guilty of a crime.
The Supreme Court is deliberating on cases pertaining to First Amendment rights and social media regulations. Recent polling indicates widespread scepticism towards the Supreme Court’s handling of Trump’s immunity claims.
An AP-NORC poll released last week highlighted a significant lack of public confidence in the institution, with only 16 per cent expressing a great deal of trust in the Supreme Court. A substantial 44 per cent reported having only some confidence, while 40 per cent indicated having hardly any confidence at all. Democrats, in particular, displayed significant distrust, with 58 per cent stating they had hardly any confidence in the Supreme Court.
In another survey conducted by Marquette Law School in May, public approval of the Supreme Court stood at a low 39 per cent, with 61 per cent disapproving of its performance. This dissatisfaction has persisted since the Court’s controversial 2022 Dobbs decision.
Public opinion remains sharply divided on the issue of presidential immunity from criminal prosecution. When asked specifically about Trump, 60 per cent of respondents opposed granting him immunity for official acts, compared to 30 per cent who supported it.
On the broader question of whether former presidents should enjoy immunity, 71 per cent believed they should not, with only 16 per cent in favour. Among Republicans specifically asked about Trump, a majority (61 per cent) supported immunity from criminal prosecution, CNN reported.
