The Supreme Court on Monday, July 1, extended the delay in the Washington criminal case against Donald Trump on charges he plotted to overturn his 2020 presidential election loss, all but ending prospects the former president could be tried before the November election.
In a historic 6-3 ruling, the justices said for the first time that former presidents have absolute immunity from prosecution for their official acts and no immunity for unofficial acts. But rather than do it themselves, the justices ordered lower courts to figure out precisely how to apply the decision to Trump's case.
Trump hailed their decision as a "big win" for democracy. "Big win for our constitution and democracy. Proud to be an American!" Trump posted in all caps on his Truth Social platform on Monday after the opinion was delivered.
The court's decision in a second major Trump case this term – along with its ruling rejecting efforts to bar him from the ballot because of his actions following the 2020 election – underscores the direct and possibly uncomfortable role the justices are playing in the November election.
The ruling was the last of the term and it came more than two months after the court heard arguments, far slower than in other epic high court cases involving the presidency, including the Watergate tapes case.
The Republican former president has denied doing anything wrong and has said this prosecution and three others are politically motivated to try to keep him from returning to the White House.
In May, Trump became the first former president to be convicted of a felony, in a New York court. He was found guilty of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment made during the 2016 presidential election to a porn actor who says she had sex with him, which he denies. He still faces three other indictments.