Particular counsel Jack Smith speaks to members of the media on the US Division of Justice constructing in Washington, DC, on August 1, 2023.
Saul Loeb | AFP | Getty Pictures
The federal particular counsel prosecuting Donald Trump urged the Supreme Court docket on Thursday to rapidly hear an enchantment on whether or not he has presidential immunity, to keep away from “undue delay” in holding a trial on felony prices for efforts to undo his defeat within the 2020 election.
“The decision of the query introduced is pivotal as to whether the previous President himself will stand trial— which is scheduled to start lower than three months sooner or later,” Division of Justice Particular Counsel Jack Smith wrote in a brand new submitting with the Supreme Court docket.
“The general public curiosity in a immediate decision of this case favors a direct, definitive resolution by this Court docket,” Smith wrote.” The fees listed below are of the utmost gravity. This case entails — for the primary time in our Nation’s historical past — felony prices in opposition to a former President primarily based on his actions whereas in workplace.”
The submitting got here a day after Trump’s attorneys of their submitting advised the Supreme Court docket that it shouldn’t instantly take the case, during which they’re interesting a federal trial courtroom choose’s ruling in Washington, D.C., that Trump doesn’t have immunity despite the fact that he was president on the time of the alleged crimes.
Trump’s attorneys argue that their enchantment ought to first be heard by the federal appeals courtroom in Washington, which at Smith’s request has already expedited proceedings for that bid.
The attorneys prompt in that submitting that Smith had a “partisan motivation” in asking the Supreme Court docket to avoid regular process and take the enchantment with out having a decrease appellate circuit courtroom take into account it first.
However Smith in his submitting Thursday famous that the case is for certain to finish up on the Supreme Court docket whatever the D.C. circuit courtroom’s resolution.
“Solely this Court docket can present the ultimate phrase on his immunity protection,” he wrote within the submitting.
“The Nation has a compelling curiosity in a call on respondent’s declare of immunity from these prices—and if they’re to be tried, a decision by conviction or acquittal, with out undue delay,” Smith wrote.
He dismissed claims by Trump’s attorneys about why he was searching for Supreme Court docket motion now, saying they’re “unfounded and incorrect.”
Trump at present is scheduled to face trial within the case in early March. The case has been paused whereas he appeals the denial of his immunity declare.
He has pleaded not responsible in that case, and in three different felony circumstances, all of which he claims are the results of efforts to hurt his probabilities within the 2024 presidential election.
Trump is the present frontrunner within the Republican nomination race.
