by JANAE BOWENS | The National Desk
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WASHINGTON (TND) — Former President Donald Trump can claim immunity from criminal prosecution for his official acts in his federal election interference case.In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled a president's official acts are immune from prosecution.
Chief JusticeJohn Roberts, JusticeClarence Thomas, Justice Samuel Alito, JusticeNeil Gorsuch, JusticeBrett Kavanaugh, and JusticeAmy Coney Barrett narrowed the case against him. They returned it to the trial court to determine what was left of special counsel Jack Smith's indictment. The lower courts will have to decide what an official act is. Legal experts say the case could return to the Supreme Court since "official acts" were not defined and how soon this could happen depends on whether the lower court is legally correct or if two or more courts split on the matter.
Barrett does not support the entire decision.
She disagreed that the Constitution prevents a president's "official acts" from being presented to a jury as evidence in a criminal case.
“If the evidence comes in, the trial court can instruct the jury to consider it only for lawful purposes. I see no need to depart from that familiar and time-tested procedure here," said Justice Barrett in her concurring opinion.
Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson voted against the decision.
The trio raises concerns about how this decision will impact the future presidents.
Trump celebrated a “BIG WIN” on X. President Joe Biden said in remarks Monday, that the justices set “a dangerous precedent (that) undermines the rule of this nation.”
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EDITOR'S NOTE: The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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