Supreme Court refuses to hear Trump immunity case ahead of appeals court

The Supreme Court’s Friday ruling could delay former President Donald Trump’s trial on election interference charges until after the 2024 presidential election. Justice Department Special Counsel Jack Smith earlier this month had requested that the court rule ahead of a federal appeals court in Washington, D.C. Trump has denied any wrongdoing in the case, and his legal team has further argued he has immunity as a former president against the charges. Smith brought the election interference charges in relation to the Capitol riots of Jan. 6, 2021.

So, how would this delay Trump’s trial? Trump is currently set to appear in court on March 4. The trial has been delayed, pending Trump’s appeal on the argument of presidential immunity. The Washington, D.C. appeals court has said it will issue a ruling on the matter soon, and the Supreme Court could do the same, or it could postpone a decision for months more.

Dig deeper: Read Carolina Lumetta and Leo Briceno’s report in The Stew about the last Republican presidential debate between Trump’s competitors for the party nomination.