TRANSATLANTIC CURRENTS
The Supreme Court in a maelstrom: What is at stake for American justice and governance?
Tuesday, 23 April, 2024 at 16:00-17:00 EEST/15:00-16:00 CEST
On April 25, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the criminal case of Donald Trump versus the United States of America – a milestone in American jurisprudence. In 2023 Trump was indicted by a federal grand jury for seeking to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election by using knowingly false claims. Trump’s lawyers argue that the former president enjoys “absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for his official acts.” In response, the Special Counsel, representing the US Government, categorically rejects that claim, noting that the President’s constitutional duty to oversee the execution of laws does not entail a right to violate them.
The Trump case is not the only challenge facing the Supreme Court. Rulings are expected soon on cases brought by anti-abortion groups, and by conservative activists aiming to limit the powers of federal agencies in matters such as environmental, health, and consumer protection. Meanwhile, media reports of alleged close relationships between some Justices and ultra-wealthy raise questions about the Court’s willingness to enforce its declared ethical standards. These challenges help explain why surveys show a precipitous drop in recent years in the public’s view of the “legitimacy” of Supreme Court decisions – a source of growing concern among many Americans for whom rule of law is fundamental to a functioning republic.
This webinar is a part of a webinar series Transatlantic Currents featuring American experts of political science and international relations organized by the Center on US Politics and Power at FIIA. The series covers a wide array of timely topics from foreign and defense policy to domestic issues.
Programme:
Opening words: Charly Salonius-Pasternak, Leading Researcher, FIIA
Speaker: Elizabeth Porter, James W. Mifflin Professor of Law, University of Washington School of Law
Chair: Leo Michel, Non-Resident Fellow, FIIA