The Supreme Court has denied special counsel Jack Smith’s request to go around the normal appeals process and decide Donald Trump’s immunity case quickly. Now it will go before the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, which is scheduled to hear oral arguments on January 9.
The former president, who faces a total of 91 charges across four indictments, filed a motion for dismissal on the grounds of presidential immunity – a request US District Judge Tanya Chutkan denied on December 7. Mr. Smith then urged the Supreme Court to take up the appeal quickly, but Mr. Trump wanted the appeals court in DC to hear it first. The special counselor said the March start date for Trump's trial would be at risk of delay if the case had to go through the normal process.
If the former president wins on this immunity case, the federal charges against him alleging election interference would be dropped. If he loses, however, the trial will go on.
