Trump v. United States (2024)

Trump v. United States
Argued April 25, 2024
Decided July 1, 2024
Full case nameDonald J. Trump v. United States
Docket no.23-939
Citations603 U.S. ___ (more)
ArgumentOral argument
DecisionOpinion
Case history
PriorUnited States v. Trump, No. 23-cr-257 (D.D.C., Dec. 1., 2023) (immunity memorandum opinion)

United States v. Trump, No. 23-3190 (D.C. Cir., Dec. 8., 2023) (gag order)
United States v. Trump, No. 23-624 (2023) (certiorari before judgment)

United States v. Trump, 91 F.4th 1173 (D.C. Cir. 2024) (immunity).
Questions presented
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.
Holding
Under our constitutional structure of separated powers, the nature of Presidential power entitles a former President to absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for actions within his conclusive and preclusive constitutional authority. And he is entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts. There is no immunity for unofficial acts.
Court membership
Chief Justice
John Roberts
Associate Justices
Clarence Thomas · Samuel Alito
Sonia Sotomayor · Elena Kagan
Neil Gorsuch · Brett Kavanaugh
Amy Coney Barrett · Ketanji Brown Jackson
Case opinions
MajorityRoberts, joined by Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh; Barrett (except Part III–C)
ConcurrenceThomas
ConcurrenceBarrett (in part)
DissentSotomayor, joined by Kagan, Jackson
DissentJackson
Laws applied
U.S. Const. art. II

Trump v. United States, 603 U.S. ___ is a landmark decision[1][2] of the Supreme Court of the United States in which the Court determined that presidential immunity from criminal prosecution presumptively extends to all of a president's "official acts" – with absolute immunity for official acts within an exclusive presidential authority that Congress cannot regulate, such as the pardon, command of the military, execution of laws, or control of the executive branch. The case extends from an ongoing federal trial to determine whether Donald Trump, president at the time, and others engaged in election interference during the 2020 election, including events during the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. It is the first time a case concerning criminal prosecution for alleged official acts of a president was brought before the Supreme Court.[3]

On July 1, 2024, the Court ruled in a 6–3 decision, along ideological lines, that Trump had absolute immunity for acts he committed as President within his constitutional purview, presumptive immunity for official acts within the outer perimeter of his official responsibility, and no immunity for unofficial acts.[3][4][5] The decision also provides the same immunity to all presidents, including Joe Biden.[6] It declined to rule on the scope of immunity for some of Trump's acts alleged in his indictment, instead vacating the appellate decision and remanding the case to the district court for further proceedings.

  1. ^ Louis Jacobson and Amy Sherman (July 1, 2024). "Key facts from the Supreme Court's immunity ruling and how it affects presidential power". PBS. Archived from the original on July 3, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024. In a landmark ruling with potentially major impact on the 2024 presidential campaign, a U.S. Supreme Court majority ruled that presidents — including former President Donald Trump — have immunity from prosecution when carrying out "official acts."
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference 20240701PBSBarajas was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b Hurley, Lawrence (July 1, 2024). "Supreme Court provides win to Trump, ruling he has immunity for many acts in election interference indictment". NBC News. Archived from the original on July 1, 2024. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  4. ^ Fisher, Joe (July 1, 2024). "Supreme Court rules Trump has partial immunity for official acts only". United Press International. Archived from the original on July 1, 2024. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  5. ^ Savage, Charlie (July 1, 2024). "Highlights of the Supreme Court Ruling on Presidential Immunity". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 2, 2024. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  6. ^ Gibson, Ginger (July 1, 2024). "'I dissent': Biden attacks Supreme Court immunity ruling as emboldening a lawless president". NBC News. Archived from the original on July 2, 2024. Retrieved July 2, 2024.

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