QOTD: "Something Is Rotten At The Court"

University of Michigan law professor Leah Litman writing in the op-ed page of the New York effing Times on the Republican-packed Supreme Court's slow walking a key and obvious ruling on whether the Malignant Loser / Orange Turd is above the law, as he claims:

"For those looking for the hidden hand of politics in what the Supreme Court does, there’s plenty of reason for suspicion on Donald Trump’s as-yet-decided immunity case given its urgency. There are, of course, explanations that have nothing to do with politics for why a ruling still hasn’t been issued. But the reasons to think something is rotten at the court are impossible to ignore.

On Feb. 28, the justices agreed to hear Mr. Trump’s claim that he is immune from prosecution on charges that he plotted to subvert the 2020 election. The court scheduled oral arguments in the case for the end of April. That eight-week interval is much quicker than the ordinary Supreme Court briefing process, which usually extends for at least 10 weeks. But it’s considerably more drawn out than the schedule the court established earlier this year on a challenge from Colorado after that state took Mr. Trump off its presidential primary ballot. The court agreed to hear arguments on the case a mere month after accepting it and issued its decision less than a month after the argument. Mr. Trump prevailed, 9-0.

Nearly two months have passed since the justices heard lawyers for the former president and for the special counsel’s office argue the immunity case. The court is dominated by conservatives nominated by Republican presidents. Every passing day further delays a potential trial on charges related to Mr. Trump’s efforts to remain in office after losing the 2020 election and his role in the events that led to the storming of the Capitol; indeed, at this point, even if the court rules that Mr. Trump has limited or no immunity, it is unlikely a verdict will be delivered before the election."  (our emphasis)

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who has been ready to try this case for months, is ready to start proceedings should a ruling denying the Malignant Loser's argument is made, allowing 81 days for preparation. That would bump right up against the election timeframe, if not after, given the Malignant Loser's lawyers habit of filing delaying motions to the court. The right-wing Justices blocking a speedy ruling on the Malignant Loser's risible claim of total immunity is despicable, and another blow to the rule of law.

(photo: University of Michigan Law School)