The Dangerous Precedent: Sotomayor and Jackson Criticize Supreme Court Decision Granting Criminal Immunity to Presidents

The recent decision that granted criminal immunity to presidents has sparked harsh criticism, particularly from within the court itself. Justice Sonia Sotomayor expressed in a minority opinion that the decision undermines the principle that no man is above the law, turning the president into a king above the law. She warned of the consequences for democracy and government functionality. Justice Katanji Brown Jackson echoed these concerns, emphasizing the dangers posed by the ruling.

The ruling itself clarified that presidents are immune for official acts during their term but not for unofficial acts, leaving it to lower courts to determine which actions are eligible for immunity. This has raised questions about what constitutes an official act and whether certain actions can be considered unofficial. The decision is expected to delay Trump’s trial in the 2020 election bias case and make it more challenging to prosecute him in other cases. Hours after the ruling, Trump requested a postponement of his sentencing in the Stormy Daniels hush money case, citing the Supreme Court’s decision as potentially applicable.

President Biden also condemned the Supreme Court’s decision, emphasizing that no one, not even the president, is above the law. He expressed concern over the unlimited power that the ruling grants to the president, calling it a dangerous precedent. Members of