One month after the Supreme Court issued its landmark ruling on presidential immunity, the judge overseeing former President Trump’s federal election interference case now has jurisdiction over the case again.
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan is now likely to set a series of deadlines, including a potential status conference.
The case has been stayed for seven months as Trump’s legal team appealed presidential immunity all the way to the Supreme Court.
In a 6-3 ruling authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, the court found that a president has absolute immunity for acts within their core constitutional powers and a presumption of immunity for “acts within the outer perimeter of his official responsibility.”
Judge Chutkan will now be responsible for applying the Supreme Court’s decision to the allegations in Trump’s criminal case, including whether Trump’s actions were “official acts” or private conduct that can be prosecuted.
Former President Donald J. Trump holds his first public campaign rally with his running mate, Vice Presidential nominee Senator J.D. Vance at the Van Andel Arena Grand Rapids, MI, July 20, 2024.
Bill Pugliano/Getty Images
Trump last year pleaded not guilty to charges of undertaking a “criminal scheme” to overturn the results of the 2020 election by enlisting a slate of so-called “fake electors,” using the Justice Department to conduct “sham election crime investigations,” trying to enlist the vice president to “alter the election results,” and promoting false claims of a stolen election as the Jan. 6 riot raged — all in an effort to subvert democracy and remain in power.
The former president has denied all wrongdoing.
Trump originally faced a March 4 trial date before his appeal effectively paused the proceedings for more than half a year.
The Supreme Court has recently made a decision regarding former President Donald Trump’s claim of immunity in the investigation into the January 6 Capitol riot. The Court has sent the case back to a lower court for further review, signaling that this issue is far from settled.
The case in question revolves around Trump’s attempt to shield himself from a subpoena issued by the House Select Committee investigating the events of January 6. Trump argued that as a former president, he is immune from such legal proceedings. However, the lower courts have rejected this argument, ruling that no one, not even the president, is above the law.
In a brief order issued on Monday, the Supreme Court declined to hear Trump’s appeal directly and instead sent the case back to the lower courts for further review. This decision does not necessarily mean that the Court agrees with the lower court’s ruling, but rather that they believe more legal analysis is needed before a final decision can be made.
This development is significant as it indicates that the Supreme Court is taking a cautious approach to this case, recognizing the complex legal issues at play. It also suggests that the Court may be hesitant to wade into politically charged matters, such as the investigation into the January 6 riot.
The decision to send the case back to the lower court for further review means that Trump’s claim of immunity is not yet settled. The lower court will now have to reconsider the legal arguments presented by both sides and issue a new ruling. This process could take months, if not longer, further delaying any resolution in this matter.
Overall, this latest development in the legal battle over Trump’s immunity in the January 6 investigation highlights the complexities of the case and the cautious approach being taken by the Supreme Court. It remains to be seen how this issue will ultimately be resolved, but one thing is clear: the legal battle is far from over.
