'Disgusting': SCOTUS slammed for scheduling Trump immunity hearing for last day possible

US Supreme Court

The Supreme Court will hear arguments on former President Donald Trump's presidential immunity claim on April 25, the very last day of hearings for this current term, according to records and reports.

Economist reporter Steven Mazie shared the news of the hearing — to debate a matter at the heart of special counsel Jack Smith's federal election interference case against Trump — on X Wednesday afternoon.

The post was immediately flooded with comments accusing the Court of spurring a delay to benefit Trump, an argument also raised in recent weeks by columnists at the Washington Post.

"They are making it crystal clear that their intention is to delay this decision as long as possible," replied X user Deb. "This SCOTUS majority is disgusting."

Delay has been the name of the game for Trump, the lone-standing Republican candidate in the 2024 presidential race, because he could effectively kill Smith's case against him should he regain the White House in 2025, legal experts say.

Trump's presidential immunity defense — which argues he cannot be prosecuted for any official acts as a standing U.S. president — has stalled the Washington D.C. case for months as the argument worked its way through the appeals court system.

That process began with the Supreme Court refusing in December to expedite the process and kicking the decision to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, which ruled in early February that blanket presidential immunity would undermine the foundations of democracy.

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After two weeks of waiting, the Supreme Court announced on Feb. 28 that it would consider the question again.

"The decision is a significant victory for Trump for at least two reasons," CNN reported at the time. "He will now be able to argue for sweeping presidential immunity that, if granted, could undermine the bevy of legal challenges he faces, and he will also be able to push off a trial, likely for several weeks at least."

Critics of the high court note three of the nine judges were appointed by Trump — Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch.

Justice Clarence Thomas faces direct calls for recusal over the conflict of interest presented by his wife Ginny's participation in Trump's efforts to challenge the 2020 election.

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