On Wednesday, the Supreme Court agreed to hear former President Donald Trump’s appeal regarding presidential immunity.
Trump’s appeal being accepted will delay the trial in his election interference case in the lower court. Oral arguments are set to take place during the week of April 22, 2024, as per the justices’ schedule.
“The Special Counsel’s request to treat the stay application as a petition for a writ of certiorari is granted, and that petition is granted limited to the following question: Whether and if so to what extent does a former President enjoy presidential immunity from criminal prosecution for conduct alleged to involve official acts during his tenure in office,” the order states. “Without expressing a view on the merits, this Court directs the Court of Appeals to continue withholding issuance of the mandate until the sending down of the judgment of this Court.”
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In early February, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Trump was not immune from prosecution in the election interference case filed by special counsel Jack Smith.
Earlier this month, Trump requested the Supreme Court to halt the decision made by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Smith argued that any additional postponement of Trump’s trial would go against the public’s interest in a prompt and just decision. The lower court has put the case on hold while waiting for the resolution of Trump’s appeal.
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This year, the Supreme Court has agreed to consider a high-profile issue involving the former president for the second time with the presidential immunity appeal. The justices reviewed Trump’s qualification for the 2024 ballot based on the 14th Amendment on Feb. 8 following his appeal of a Colorado decision that disqualified him from the ballot.
In April, the justices will review a case that examines the extent of an obstruction statute applied to prosecute numerous Jan. 6 defendants, which is also linked to two of the four charges in Trump’s indictment.
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