This year, the Supreme Court conducted one of the most egregious political interventions in its history.
By delaying Donald Trump’s trial, the justices gave him what he most desired: time. Every day that passes makes it less likely that he will face a federal jury before the 2024 election.
This political interference is one of many reasons the Court’s credibility has plunged in recent years. A deluge of ethics scandals has exposed political bias on the Court — most recently with the revelation that Justice Samuel Alito flew flags associated with the January 6 insurrection at his home and at his beach house. And the toothless, nonbinding code of ethics the Court adopted earlier this year offers no real accountability.
No one should have power for this long. The Brennan Center is calling for term limits and meaningful ethics reforms for Supreme Court justices. Will you support our advocacy work by donating today? All donations made through the end of the month will be matched by a generous donor.
Trump’s bid to stop the peaceful transfer of power was a dark day in American history. Voters have a right to know if they are being asked to elect a president who is guilty of serious crimes against democracy itself.
Earlier this year, we filed a friend-of-the-court brief representing 15 top historians of the founding era. The brief made clear that presidents have been subject to criminal prosecution since the beginning of our history. This principle has been reaffirmed repeatedly.
While Trump urged his supporters to “stop the steal,” the Supreme Court decided to start the stall. It has done immense damage to our democracy simply by pushing back the timeline for a trial.
It’s time to restore legitimacy to the Court. Will you help the Brennan Center fight for Supreme Court reform?
