The Supreme Court appears to be reserving some space in its schedule for potential challenges related to former President Trump, according to former prosecutor Joyce Vance. Her remarks come on the heels of Trump’s ongoing legal troubles, including an election-fraud case in Washington, D.C., and possible disputes regarding the outcome of the 2024 election if he does not emerge victorious.
Trump faces four counts in D.C., where he is accused of attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 election, coinciding with the January 6, 2021 riot at the Capitol. He has pleaded not guilty and labels the prosecution as a political maneuver against him.
In her legal blog, Civil Discourse, Vance pointed out that the Supreme Court’s current docket appears less packed than usual, suggesting that justices are preparing for Trump-related appeals. “They’re saving room,” she noted, despite the recent addition of fifteen new cases after reviewing around 2,000 petitions.
Vance speculated on a “round two” of Trump’s presidential immunity appeal, which seeks to shield him from a jury trial in D.C. This follows the Supreme Court’s July ruling affirming broad immunity for the nominee, prompting prosecutor Jack Smith to file a new indictment along with supporting evidence against Trump this October.
She also highlighted a possible appeal related to the Eleventh Circuit’s ruling on Judge Cannon’s decision to dismiss the classified documents case, where Cannon claimed that Smith’s appointment as special counsel was improper. Trump faces 40 federal charges regarding sensitive materials at Mar-a-Lago and has yet again denied any wrongdoing, calling the case another instance of political targeting.
Furthermore, Vance emphasized the likelihood of post-election challenges from Trump in the event of a loss in the upcoming presidential race.