Sotomayor criticizes the case of presidential immunity as a high court legitimacy on line
Sonia Sotomayor Supreme Court’s justice criticized the case of presidential immunity in 2024 in its first public appearance since the beginning of the second Trump’s term, saying that it sets the legitimacy of the court on the line.
Sotomayor comments during the appearance of Louisville in Kentucky, during which they asked her a number of questions, including the public perception of the High Court, according to Associated Press. Sotomayor comments are first in public since President Donald Trump took his duties last month.
“If we go as a court as ahead of people, our legitimacy will be questioned,” Sotomayor said during the event in Louisville. “I think the case of immunity is one of these situations. I don’t think Americans have not accepted that anyone should be above the law in America. Our equality as humans was the basis of our society and our constitution.”
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In a decision of 6-3 in July 2024, the Supreme Court ruled in Trump against the United States that the former president had significant immunity from criminal persecution for official offenses committed while he was on duty, but not for unofficial offenses.
The case was derived from the Case of the Federal Election of Jack Smith, in which Trump accused of conspiracy of deceiving the United States; conspiracy for obstructing official procedure; obstruction and attempt to interfere with the official procedure; and conspiracy against rights.
Sonia Sotomayor Supreme Court’s justice criticized the case of presidential immunity in 2024 in its first public appearance since the beginning of the second Trump’s term, saying that it sets the legitimacy of the court on the line. (Jahi Chikwendiu/Washington Post via Getty Images)
Sotomayor particularly wrote disagreement, joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanja Brown Jackson, saying that the decision “makes fun of the principle, based on our Constitution and the system of government, that no one is above the law.”
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“Never in the history of our Republic, the President has no reason to believe that he will be immune from criminal persecution if he uses the traps of his office to break the criminal law,” disagreement continued. “Moving, however, all former presidents will be covered with such immunity. If the tenant of that office abuses the official power for personal gain, the criminal law that the rest must be adhered to will not give fear. With fear of our democracy, I disagree.”
In a decision of 6-3 in July 2024, the Supreme Court ruled in Trump against the United States that the former president had significant immunity from criminal persecution for official offenses committed while he was on duty, but not for unofficial offenses. (Donald Trump: Photo Peter Zay/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images | Supreme Court: Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
During her appearance in Louisville, Sotomayor shared that “it was difficult with the immunity case”, saying that the Constitution contains the provisions “that the president does not liberate from criminal activity after the murder.”
Sotomayor warned that if the court continued the same way, the legitimacy of the court would ultimately be in danger.
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“And if we continue to go in instructions that the public will hardly understand, we are at risk at the court,” Sotomayor said.
When asked for comment, the White House spokesman told Fox News Digital, “This historical rule 6-3 speaks for himself.”
Justice suggested that one of the ways to resolve the public distrust of the public in the court of slowdown in precedent. In recent years, the Court has canceled various significant decisions, including ROE against Wade 2022, and encouraging a positive effect in receiving at the Faculty 2023 and Chevron Doctrine 2024.
The case was derived from the Case of the Federal Election of Jack Smith, in which Trump accused of conspiracy of deceiving the United States; conspiracy for obstructing official procedure; obstruction and attempt to interfere with the official procedure; and conspiracy against rights. (Tsal Rashid/Lightctics via Getty Images)
“I think that creates instability in society, in the perception of the law of people and the perception of people whether we do things because of legal analysis or because of partisan attitudes,” Sotomayor said. “Whether these views are correct or not, I don’t accuse my colleagues of being partisan.”
Sotomayor made similar comments in 2023, saying that she had a “despair” on the direction of the court after Dobbs’s decision against Jackson, which overturned ROE. Sotomayor did not specifically appoint the case.
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However, justice said there was no luxury to keep himself on those feelings.
“It’s not an option to fall into despair,” Sotomayor said. “I have to get up and continue to fight.”
Ronn Blitzer Fox News Digital and Associated Press contributed to this report.
