Trump v. United States (2024) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Trump v. United States |
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| Argued April 25, 2024 Decided July 1, 2024 |
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| Full case name | Donald J. Trump v. United States |
| Docket nos. | 23-939 |
| Citations | 603 U.S. ___ (more) |
| Prior history | United States v. Trump, No. 23-cr-257 (D.D.C., Dec. 1., 2023) (immunity memorandum opinion) United States v. Trump, No. 23-3190 (D.C. Cir., Dec. 8., 2023) (gag order) |
| Argument | Oral argument |
| Questions presented | |
| Whether and if so to what extent does a former President enjoy presidential immunity from criminal prosecution for conduct alleged to involve official acts during his tenure in office. | |
| Court membership | |
| Case opinions | |
| Majority | Roberts, joined by Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh; Barrett (except Part III–C) |
| Concurrence | Thomas |
| Concurrence | Barrett (in part) |
| Dissent | Sotomayor, joined by Kagan, Jackson |
| Dissent | Jackson |
| Laws applied | |
| U.S. Const. art. II | |
Trump v. United States is a landmark decision of the Supreme Court of the United States in which the Court determined that presidential immunity from criminal prosecution presumptively extends to all of a president's official acts – with absolute immunity for official acts within an exclusive presidential authority that Congress cannot regulate, such as the pardon or veto power. The case extends from an ongoing federal trial to determine whether Donald Trump, president at the time, and others engaged in election interference during the 2020 election, including events during the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. It is the first time a case concerning criminal prosecution for official acts of a president was brought before the Supreme Court.
On July 1, 2024, the Court ruled in a 6–3 decision, along ideological lines, that Trump had absolute immunity for acts he committed as President within his constitutional purview, presumptive immunity for official acts, and no immunity for unofficial acts. The decision also provides the same immunity to all other former presidents. However, it declined to rule on the scope of immunity for official acts, instead vacating the appellate decision and remanding the case to the district court for further proceedings.
Former President Donald Trump called the decision a "big win for our constitution and democracy." Trump's legal team and other commentators believed that the ruling could affect the result of the classified documents case.
See also
- United States v. Nixon
- Presidential immunity in the United States
