Today, we focus on Trump’s appeal to the Supreme Court after Judge Chutkan denied his motion to dismiss the Special Counsel’s election interference case, claiming he has absolute immunity from criminal prosecution as a former president. It was a sobering experience, even with a Court that has shown a propensity to abandon first principles, precedent, history, common sense, and the good of the American people when their political allegiances demand it. The outcome of the case is far from certain. The argument was disheartening.
Thank you, Joyce. I find it hard to believe the conservative/reactionary justices even care about the rule of law. These are dispiriting, disheartening, and disillusioning times.
This court and the way they seem to allow Trump and the GOP States to get away with harm they have done e and will do to all Americans is so discouraging. I don’t get my hopes up at all anymore. The legal system drags its feet so slowly making the outrageous become neutral. One day SCOTUS will rue the day they bent over backwards to this petty man.
Funny how SCOTUS is so focused on their place in history and so little on more humbly resolving the particular problem before them.
Question: has any lawyer appearing before this court had the gumption to apply for Justice Thomas’ recusal on the basis of his wife’s well-publicised efforts to overturn the last presidential election? Or is it all just handwringing from the sidelines?
OMG, your discussion is so polite!!! After the nine black robes (8 because Thomas already has his mind made up) were given a simple case to preserve the rule of law (well argued in detail in the lower courts) on an existential threat to democracy did everything to obscure the simple historical decision they needed to make for the country with legal sophistry. They are truly a national disgrace. Joyce, don't you ever get angry?
If this decision goes where it looks like it's going, we will at least be easily able to identify the date of the fall of the constitutional democratic republic: April 25, 2024. That'll make it easier for we historians.
The failure of Justice Thomas to recuse when recusal is so obviously called for taints any decision the Court teaches. They do not operate as a court of law, but as a political body. They spent their time focusing on everything but the actual indictment before them. It was embarrassingly transparent that they want to delay this case.
Let there be no doubt: the fix is in for Trump. I listened at the beach, sitting in my Surf Truck, while my buddies paddled out and I sat for 2+ hours, livid, furious, outraged, terrified. Friends came over to ask if I was ok. No, I said, not ok. Not good. Our democracy is being scuttled by 5 or 6 unelected ideologues, including a corrupt one — Justice (ugh…should not have to use that word before his name) Thomas — who REFUSED to discuss the facts surrounding the events of J6, the facts arising out of the ONLY attempt to overthrow the government. Let there be no doubt: the fix is in for Trump.
"Is a former president entitled to immunity for criminal acts committed while president, and if so, what is the scope of that immunity?"
Never has it been more apparent that in the end it is the moral character of those with power that is most important. When we allow liars, bribe takers, drunken ragers, we get judges who don’t judge… they simply stir up mud to hide decisions which smear legitimate questions…
“Alito suggests there are not enough legal safeguards in place to protect presidents against malicious prosecution if they don’t have some form of immunity. He tells Dreeben that the grand jury process isn’t much of a protection because prosecutors, as the saying goes, can indict a ham sandwich.” Mud or mustard thrown at the wall. A Justice who does not believe in our judicial system. Depressing as hell!
Joyce, I have a question. If the Constitution states the neccessity of high crimes & misdemeanors for impeachment & the J6 committee & Jack Smith have shown them, how can the "originalists" decide otherwise?
If, as I think we all suspect, SCOTUS grants Trump even limited immunity, then I fear we can no longer claim to have 3 branches of government. The Judicial Branch will have been completely subsumed by the Executive Branch and the concept of checks and balances will no longer apply to our government. Without such checks and balances the whole underpinning of our Democracy crumbles. This was a very sad day and one that, in the fullness of time, will be seen as the first nail in the coffin of Democracy in America.
This was the most disappointing day of the Trump era as it was revealed just how extreme these justices are. They are just as far right as were some of the quotes from the 1930’s such as “ might makes right” and “ I am the state!”. That such thinking would ever be connected to a former president named Trump, was beyond my imagination. The fact that he is the inevitable nominee for the third time is astounding.
Thank you, Joyce. I find it hard to believe the conservative/reactionary justices even care about the rule of law. These are dispiriting, disheartening, and disillusioning times.
Alito, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh and especially Clarence-on-the-take Thomas are American Disgraces.
Vote only Blue.
Retain control of the Senate.
Retake control of the House.
Re-elect President Biden.
Afterwards, expand the number of SCOTUS to 13.
This court and the way they seem to allow Trump and the GOP States to get away with harm they have done e and will do to all Americans is so discouraging. I don’t get my hopes up at all anymore. The legal system drags its feet so slowly making the outrageous become neutral. One day SCOTUS will rue the day they bent over backwards to this petty man.
Thank you, Joyce.
Funny how SCOTUS is so focused on their place in history and so little on more humbly resolving the particular problem before them.
Question: has any lawyer appearing before this court had the gumption to apply for Justice Thomas’ recusal on the basis of his wife’s well-publicised efforts to overturn the last presidential election? Or is it all just handwringing from the sidelines?
OMG, your discussion is so polite!!! After the nine black robes (8 because Thomas already has his mind made up) were given a simple case to preserve the rule of law (well argued in detail in the lower courts) on an existential threat to democracy did everything to obscure the simple historical decision they needed to make for the country with legal sophistry. They are truly a national disgrace. Joyce, don't you ever get angry?
If this decision goes where it looks like it's going, we will at least be easily able to identify the date of the fall of the constitutional democratic republic: April 25, 2024. That'll make it easier for we historians.
The failure of Justice Thomas to recuse when recusal is so obviously called for taints any decision the Court teaches. They do not operate as a court of law, but as a political body. They spent their time focusing on everything but the actual indictment before them. It was embarrassingly transparent that they want to delay this case.
Infuriating.
We have to get Biden back in the White House. Then SCOTUS can delay all they want. It won't matter at that point.
Let there be no doubt: the fix is in for Trump. I listened at the beach, sitting in my Surf Truck, while my buddies paddled out and I sat for 2+ hours, livid, furious, outraged, terrified. Friends came over to ask if I was ok. No, I said, not ok. Not good. Our democracy is being scuttled by 5 or 6 unelected ideologues, including a corrupt one — Justice (ugh…should not have to use that word before his name) Thomas — who REFUSED to discuss the facts surrounding the events of J6, the facts arising out of the ONLY attempt to overthrow the government. Let there be no doubt: the fix is in for Trump.
"Is a former president entitled to immunity for criminal acts committed while president, and if so, what is the scope of that immunity?"
Never has it been more apparent that in the end it is the moral character of those with power that is most important. When we allow liars, bribe takers, drunken ragers, we get judges who don’t judge… they simply stir up mud to hide decisions which smear legitimate questions…
“Alito suggests there are not enough legal safeguards in place to protect presidents against malicious prosecution if they don’t have some form of immunity. He tells Dreeben that the grand jury process isn’t much of a protection because prosecutors, as the saying goes, can indict a ham sandwich.” Mud or mustard thrown at the wall. A Justice who does not believe in our judicial system. Depressing as hell!
Joyce, I have a question. If the Constitution states the neccessity of high crimes & misdemeanors for impeachment & the J6 committee & Jack Smith have shown them, how can the "originalists" decide otherwise?
If, as I think we all suspect, SCOTUS grants Trump even limited immunity, then I fear we can no longer claim to have 3 branches of government. The Judicial Branch will have been completely subsumed by the Executive Branch and the concept of checks and balances will no longer apply to our government. Without such checks and balances the whole underpinning of our Democracy crumbles. This was a very sad day and one that, in the fullness of time, will be seen as the first nail in the coffin of Democracy in America.
Eight years ago a presidential candidate stated on TV he could shoot someone and not lose voters.
Today SCOTUS heard arguments on that very question.
That’s how far down we have come.
If Justice Thomas was a potential juror, he never would have been allowed on the jury. It is a travesty he is participating in this case.
This was the most disappointing day of the Trump era as it was revealed just how extreme these justices are. They are just as far right as were some of the quotes from the 1930’s such as “ might makes right” and “ I am the state!”. That such thinking would ever be connected to a former president named Trump, was beyond my imagination. The fact that he is the inevitable nominee for the third time is astounding.
Thankful for DA Alvin Bragg. New York’s criminal case against Trump could be the only way Trump is held accountable for criminal conduct.