TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Apr 25, 2024

The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments today in a case that will test whether a former president has immunity from prosecution for acts committed while in office. According to Reuters, conservative members of the court indicated some sympathy to the argument that presidents should have some immunity against criminal charges for certain actions taken in office, while the liberal members warned that giving a former president sweeping immunity might embolden sitting presidents to commit crimes while in the White House. Justice Neil Gorsuch summed up the gravity of the case, saying, "We're writing a rule for the ages." Former President Donald Trump has claimed that he is immune from criminal prosecution for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attacks on the U.S. Capitol. Trump argues that, because he was president at the time, he cannot now be tried. His trial in that case remains on hold until the Supreme Court rules.