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Justice Sotomayor's Fearful Dissent on Supreme Court's Trump Immunity Ruling

Jul 1, 2024, 02:47 PM

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor has issued a powerful dissent in response to the Court's decision to grant former Presidents, including Trump, criminal immunity. In her dissent, Sotomayor argues that the ruling fundamentally reshapes the institution of the Presidency, making a mockery of the principle that no man is above the law. She warns that under this decision, a President would be immune from criminal prosecution even for egregious actions such as ordering the assassination of a political rival, organizing a military coup, or taking bribes. Sotomayor's dissent, which was joined by Justices Jackson and Kagan, expresses deep concern for the future of democracy, stating, 'In every use of official power, the President is now a king above the law.' She describes the relationship between the President and the people he serves as having shifted irrevocably and writes with fear for democracy.