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submitted 10 months ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/politics@lemmy.world

Donald Trump opposes the special counsel’s request for the Supreme Court to decide right now whether he has any immunity from federal prosecution for alleged crimes he committed while in office, lawyers for the former president told the justices in court papers Wednesday.

Special counsel Jack Smith asked the high court last week to review a lower-court ruling that Trump, as a former president, is not immune from the election subversion criminal case. Smith in his appeal to the justices asked them to take the rare step of reviewing the issue before a federal appeals court in Washington, DC, weighs in.

But Trump, whose legal strategy in the case so far has largely revolved around attempts to delay the proceedings, told the justices that Smith should not be able to leapfrog over the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit to resolve the critical issue.

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[-] Telorand@reddthat.com 73 points 10 months ago

The right to a speedy trial is the right of the defense and the prosecution. I hope they reject Trump's motion.

[-] Fal@yiffit.net 15 points 10 months ago

Do you have anything supporting your claim that the prosecution has a right to a speedy trial?

[-] Telorand@reddthat.com 16 points 10 months ago

I heard it from actively practicing lawyers on the Legal AF podcast, and I don't know which episode. I don't have a written source to give you.

[-] barkingspiders@infosec.pub 24 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

I really appreciate this exchange. Someone casually makes a claim, someone else requests sources, and the original poster took the time to respond and detail where they heard the info. Great job on all of you. Now I'll try to add to the conversation.

IANAL but it looks like it's a defendant's right. It's origins seem to be about protecting a defendant from a never-ending or egregiously drawn out prosecution. I think it's fair to say that it gives both sides tools in this case. It seems pretty obvious to me that the defendant here (orange man) wants to delay and would maybe even decline his right to a speedy trial if offered the choice. Meanwhile the prosecution can press the judges to keep things moving by pointing out that they (the prosecutors and judges) are legally obligated to give the defendant a speedy trial.

and sources:
https://www.justia.com/criminal/procedure/right-to-a-speedy-trial/
https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/amdt6-2-1/ALDE_00012979/
https://www.armfor.uscourts.gov/digest/VB4.htm

[-] EatATaco@lemm.ee 13 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

I appreciate the positive response, but I have to strongly disagree and point out how this is a thing that is so bothersome with lemmy (and reddit as well).

As you said, someone just casually made a claim. If one has anything more than the most basic education about the COTUs, they would know it was intended to put restrictions on the federal government, not restrictions on individuals. So the argument that this was also supposed to restrict the individual doesn't even remotely pass the sniff test.

They were unanimously upvoted. At this point, it's still unanimous. All because it's what people want to be true in this case. Including myself.

A poster asked them to cite the claim that doesn't pass the sniff test. Met with twice as many downvotes as upvotes. A reasonable question, 100% more downvotes than upvotes.

Their response is nothing more than "I heard it somewhere from a source that knows what they are talking about." Almost literally it's that vague.

They were unanimously upvoted. Again. For what is effectively nothing. All because it's what people want to be true.

It was a garbage and (I believe) ignorant claim, which you seem to have figured out, and it was universally accepted. It was a reasonable question, which was punished with downvotes. And their response to the question was absolutely nothing, and it was universally accepted.

This is not how it should work. I would argue it's the exact opposite of how it should work.

[-] KarmaTrainCaboose@lemmy.world 7 points 10 months ago

Thank you for posting this. These are the kinds of comments that we need more of on the internet. Ones that aren't afraid to push back on the errors of the hivemind, however justified the sentiment may be.

[-] TrickDacy@lemmy.world 5 points 10 months ago

We both know the question was very much in bad faith. Write all the novels you want and that won't change

[-] EatATaco@lemm.ee 4 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

It's can only be obviously bad faith if you recognize the claim is obviously bs.

But I don't know it was bad faith. It could be, or it could be a genuine question because it clashes with what they believe to be true, or it could be that they know the claim is false and they are trying to let the poster come to the conclusion on their own.

You're confusing your desire for it to be bad faith, justifying your down voting, with knowing it to be.

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[-] cheese_greater@lemmy.world 12 points 10 months ago

Beyond the defendant's right, its more an observation that justice delayed unduly is justice denied

[-] cheese_greater@lemmy.world 10 points 10 months ago

I've only really heard Popok say the common expression

Justice delayed is justice denied

But its more a global and ethical statement that the defendant and the victim and the People deserve to have and see justice be done.

Not sure if there's an actual affirmative right per se but its more a reflection that Trump has used his wealth and threatening tactics to escape every legal issue he's created and so fsr basically gotten away with it all. Any normal person would have long been bankrupted and imprisoned long before he was even starting to be properly investigated abd pursued

[-] Coach@lemmy.world 12 points 10 months ago

Amendment VI: In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

I think it was in that thing the orange ape man continually wipes his ass with...I think it's called the Constitution?

[-] KarmaTrainCaboose@lemmy.world 11 points 10 months ago

Look I agree that these proceedings should move quickly to put Trump behind bars.

But... If I'm reading it correctly, that says that the accused has a right to a speedy trial, not the prosecution, which is what the above commenter asked for.

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[-] cheese_greater@lemmy.world 62 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

(IF) He's innocent, wats the problem with the 🚬highest🚬 Court in all the land clearing his name once and for all lol?

Why wait? Save the Courts all the meritless appeals

[-] not_that_guy05@lemmy.world 37 points 10 months ago

Wasting time that's why. The longer the delay, the better for him and his campaign of BS lies that people will eat up.

[-] gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works 19 points 10 months ago

Or more specifically: he’s hoping to run out the clock while simultaneously clinching the GOP nomination and the presidency, at which point he’ll just pardon himself, immediately kicking off a constitutional crisis of pretty fucking epic proportions. And that’s before he kicks off any of the other constitutional crises he’s undoubtedly champing at the bit to kick off as well.

[-] cheese_greater@lemmy.world 5 points 10 months ago

Oh I know the gam3, I was getting cute cuz its so obvious it must be getting painful. Thanks regardless ;)

[-] RunningInRVA@lemmy.world 13 points 10 months ago

This is actually a legitimate argument that will be used against him in this matter. He can’t have/want it both ways. He can’t want to simultaneously clear his name (as he is the supposed victim in all this) and also argue for a delay in that process.

[-] cheese_greater@lemmy.world 7 points 10 months ago

He can't not think any other way than two ways. The biggest issue these folks have or purposely misrepresent is that when it comes to anything involving them, it can't be falsifiable. They have to be able to pivot any which way at any time because none of it is real or evidence-backed.

Its a terrifying and miserable existence as opposed to living in truth and letting reality tell the story instead of having to constantly remember lies and bullshit justifications and running into people you lied or screwed

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[-] PrincessLeiasCat@sh.itjust.works 37 points 10 months ago

“Do the thing I specifically hired you to do!”

[-] Thirdborne@lemmy.world 15 points 10 months ago

I think the conservative justices will be happy to see his demise and the rise of his more competent successor. I doubt he can count on them for any favors.

[-] DrBob@lemmy.ca 34 points 10 months ago

Smith in his appeal to the justices asked them to take the rare step of reviewing the issue before a federal appeals court in Washington, DC, weighs in.

There is nothing rare about the request. It's called "cert before judgement" and the DoJ used it 10 times in the four years that Trump was president.

It's most commonly used in a situation like this where the appeal is interlocutory meaning the appeal stops the trial cold while it's resolved.

[-] Jaysyn@kbin.social 30 points 10 months ago

Delay, delay, delay.

He knows his ass is toast.

[-] scripthook@lemmy.world 12 points 10 months ago

Ironic given he kicks everything else up to the Supreme Court and just proves he wants to use the Appeals Court to delay past 2024

[-] balderdash9@lemmy.zip 8 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

This is a lose-lose. If this is shot down, it’s just another case of presidents (and former presidents) being above the law. If this goes through, the republican states will use it against democratic candidates.

edit: If you don't think republican states would abuse this, let me remind you that republicans are still trying to impeach Biden just to retaliate for the Trump impeachments.

[-] citrusface@lemmy.world 28 points 10 months ago

Trump isnt the president dawg.

[-] cheese_greater@lemmy.world 6 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

What the heck is Lemmy.zip (asking you in reference to the guy you're rebutting, I've come across nothing but schizos from this particular instance...

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[-] balderdash9@lemmy.zip 3 points 10 months ago

Pedantic and besides the point. No one is saying Trump is the president

[-] xhieron@lemmy.world 21 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Lol. A bunch of folks, including Donald Trump, are saying exactly that. It's part of the reason we're even having this conversation.

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[-] Blackbeard@lemmy.world 20 points 10 months ago

Why should a court of law give a shit what Republicans will or won't do in retaliation for some perceived sleight?

[-] balderdash9@lemmy.zip 5 points 10 months ago

Maybe they shouldn't, but it's still a tough situation politically.

[-] Blackbeard@lemmy.world 12 points 10 months ago

Maybe they shouldn't?! You realize you're arguing for the law to be applied depending on who it benefits politically, don't you?

[-] balderdash9@lemmy.zip 3 points 10 months ago

You're strawmanning me pretty hard (hopefully unintentionally). I'm not arguing for the courts to do anything; my point was that there will be negative consequences no matter what they do.

[-] gregorum@lemm.ee 4 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Maybe they shouldn’t 

Your comment was literally arguing exactly that.

[-] balderdash9@lemmy.zip 3 points 10 months ago

I'm going to be overly verbose with you since you appreciate specificity so much.

Edward Teach's comment:

Why should a court of law give a shit what Republicans will or won’t do in retaliation for some perceived sleight?

Edward is implying that the court should ignore the political repercussions of their decision (i.e., "why should [they] care").

My response:

Maybe they shouldn’t, but it’s still a tough situation politically.

I am here acknowledging the salience of his point while also being intentionally non-committal. ("Maybe they shouldn't [care about the consequences]".) Maybe Edward is right that the supreme court should ignore the political fallout. I then return to my original point that it is a tough situation either way.

Edward Teach's comment:

Maybe they shouldn’t?! You realize you’re arguing for the law to be applied depending on who it benefits politically, don’t you?

Here he is straw manning me because he read too much into my original comment. I never argued that the court should or shouldn't do anything, only that there will be negative consequences either way. Edward assumed that the purpose behind my comment was to say the supreme court should rule in favor of Trump. This is not the case.

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[-] partial_accumen@lemmy.world 4 points 10 months ago

Only if the Supreme Court, whose job it is to actually determine what is lawful according US Constitution (and then other federal law and precedent) decide they are not going to do their jobs anymore.

The whole reason Supreme Court justices have appointment for life is so that their decisions can't be used against them by those in power to punish for a ruling those in power don't like. Supremes have almost "plot armor" in this regard. What do they have to fear from making a ruling that republicans don't like?

[-] HopeOfTheGunblade@kbin.social 4 points 10 months ago

Their billionaire sugar daddies will dump them?

[-] MegaUltraChicken@lemmy.world 16 points 10 months ago

Allowing our justice system to operate based on perceived political consequences seems like a terrible idea. Republicans will continue to be seditious trash regardless, holding one of them accountable for crimes they committed won't change that. Their moves should not even factor into what the justice department/courts does or doesn't do.

[-] balderdash9@lemmy.zip 6 points 10 months ago

I think people are assuming that I'm recommending a course of action when my entire point is that either scenario will have negative consequences. That being said, I agree with everything you said here.

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[-] ripcord@kbin.social 8 points 10 months ago

the republican states will use it against democratic candidates.

I don't see this as a special concern. They're going to do this no matter what.

[-] HopeOfTheGunblade@kbin.social 7 points 10 months ago

So what you're saying is, they'll be insufferable assholes no matter what we do, and we should see to it that a criminal repays society for his crimes.

[-] Jaysyn@kbin.social 7 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

If this goes through, the republican states will use it against democratic candidates.

This has nothing to do with the state cases, this is Federal & dealing with the Insurrection.

If a democratic former president incites an Insurrection &/or steals top secret documents & gives them to our enemies I hope they get prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law as well.

[-] balderdash9@lemmy.zip 3 points 10 months ago

Isn't this assuming the republicans are operating in good faith? They aren't. They care more about what they can get away with than whether it's justified. I'm sure republican states could find other reasons to take Biden off of the ballet come the next election. There seem to be a lot more legal grey areas than we were aware of. (For example, before January 6th, who knew that the vice president could potentially steal an election?)

[-] Jaysyn@kbin.social 6 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

I’m sure republican states could find other reasons to take Biden off of the ballet come the next election.

Treason & Insurrection are literally the only way a US citizen over the age of 35 can be removed from a federal ballot in the USA.

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[-] autotldr@lemmings.world 3 points 10 months ago

This is the best summary I could come up with:


Donald Trump opposes the special counsel’s request for the Supreme Court to decide right now whether he has any immunity from federal prosecution for alleged crimes he committed while in office, lawyers for the former president told the justices in court papers Wednesday.

Special counsel Jack Smith asked the high court last week to review a lower-court ruling that Trump, as a former president, is not immune from the election subversion criminal case.

But Trump, whose legal strategy in the case so far has largely revolved around attempts to delay the proceedings, told the justices that Smith should not be able to leapfrog over the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit to resolve the critical issue.

“The Special Counsel urges this Court to bypass those ordinary procedures, including the longstanding preference for prior consideration by at least one court of appeals, and rush to decide the issues with reckless abandon.

The Court should decline that invitation at this time, for several reasons,” attorneys for Trump wrote.

Even if they decline to hear it before the DC Circuit weighs in, it’s likely that the case will come before them again soon, as the appeals court has said it will expedite its review of the matter.


The original article contains 249 words, the summary contains 198 words. Saved 20%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!

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this post was submitted on 20 Dec 2023
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