this post was submitted on 05 Jan 2024
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[–] Makeitstop@lemmy.world 53 points 10 months ago (6 children)

So, how do you think the Court will justify keeping Trump on the ballot?

  • What Trump did doesn't qualify as insurrection.
  • Trump hasn't been convicted of insurrection.
  • The insurrectionist ban is only for people who participated in the civil war
  • The ban doesn't apply because presidents aren't officers
  • The ban doesn't apply because presidents swear to protect the constitution, not to support it
  • Section 3 can't be enforced without congress passing legislation to enforce it.
  • It's a political question so courts can't touch it.
  • Trump being impeached but acquitted after the insurrection means he can't be punished for it due to double jeopardy (I hate that this is an actual argument being made... and that it's not even close to the stupidest one to come from team Trump)
[–] Ottomateeverything@lemmy.world 17 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Trump hasn't been convicted of insurrection.

I keep seeing this one... Am I missing something, or didn't Colorado convict him of insurrection as part of their case? I thought that was the whole point.

But maybe I'm just trying to rationalize a group of people not acting rationally.

[–] originalucifer@moist.catsweat.com 8 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

to me this is where it gets interesting. that the constitution left it to the states to 'remove the burden' of being labeled an insurrectionist to congress implies maybe they also decide who is an insurrectionist ... ie, maybe it only takes one state court to declare it, but congress to remove it?

in other words, the SC could say, 'colorados ruling stands becasue they have that right, if you dont like it speak to the congress who can remove the burden'

[–] 000@fuck.markets 6 points 10 months ago

No, Colorado's ruling applies solely to Colorado. They didn't convict him personally of anything, they just said his actions allow them to keep him off the ballot under the 14th Amendment. If the Supreme Court decides that Colorado misinterpreted the 14th, they could overturn their decision, but the CO decision doesn't inherently classify Trump as an insurrectionist in other states.

[–] OhNoMoreLemmy@lemmy.ml 3 points 10 months ago

It's a matter of legal jargon. When people say "convicted" they mean has there been a criminal trial in which trump was found guilty of insurrection.

This hasn't happened. But the Colorado supreme court, a court that routinely makes decisions about criminal cases, has decided he committed insurrection.

The convicted thing is just an excuse to let him off.

[–] qantravon@lemmy.world 8 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I think the most sound legal reasoning would be to say he hasn't actually been convicted of any charge that constitutes "insurrection". Conviction is how the government asserts and proves that something happened, and to skip this step opens our legal system for a whole lot of abuse. They're going to say that, if and when he is convicted, then he can be barred, but not before.

[–] itsprobablyfine@sh.itjust.works 14 points 10 months ago (2 children)

The people the this amendment was specifically targeting weren't convicted of anything.

[–] thecrotch@sh.itjust.works 4 points 10 months ago

If I'm not mistaken they were even blanket pardoned

[–] scottywh@lemmy.world 1 points 10 months ago

This is true but if there's any possibility that SCOTUS rules in trump's favor that will be the only semi logical way they could do it.

[–] Anti_Face_Weapon@lemmy.world 4 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

I don't think they can argue #1, because a lower court found that he had done insurrection, and my understanding is that they cannot overrule that finding. #2 won't stand because it never required conviction historically.

I really don't know how they're going to justify it, but I'm sure they'll find a way. Maybe it's on your list.

Edit: I have consulted a legal expert, and they said that the supreme Court can overrule "facts" determined in other courts, but it is generally only for egregious things and is generally frowned upon.

[–] oyo@lemm.ee 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Why could they not overrule that finding? That's literally what appeals to higher courts are for.

[–] Anti_Face_Weapon@lemmy.world 1 points 10 months ago

It's their job to interpret the law and to determine if the law was applied correctly. They will not however dispute those findings. You will see, they will not debate that Trump is an insurrectionist.

[–] Pretzilla@lemmy.world 3 points 10 months ago

Section 3 says he can't hold office, doesn't say he can't get elected to it

[–] OhNoMoreLemmy@lemmy.ml 3 points 10 months ago
  • Every individual state has the right to determine who can run for president in their state (this would be a complete clusterfuck but very funny to watch if you're not American).
  • Separation of powers. This is an ambitious growth in the courts powers in determining who can be in the executive branch. They need a motion from the legislature to confirm that they have this ability.

I honestly believe that conservatives on the supreme court are going to look for a way not to rule on it. The legal case for insurrection is straightforward, and they're going to want to just make it someone else's problem.

[–] mateomaui@reddthat.com 2 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Trump being impeached but acquitted after the insurrection means he can't be punished for it due to double jeopardy

So are they suggesting that to also get him out of Jack Smith’s Jan 6 case?

[–] specseaweed@lemmy.world 5 points 10 months ago (1 children)

No, they're just suggesting it so that if (when) a justice sides with him, they can say that's why. Nobody, not even the lawyers making the argument, believe that being acquitted during impeachment proceedings magically erases criminal liability.

[–] mateomaui@reddthat.com 1 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

that last part: huh, an unexpected measure of reasonability.

[–] scottywh@lemmy.world 3 points 10 months ago (1 children)

That's such a ridiculous argument anyway since they're so quick to point out that impeachment is a political process and not a "legal" or judicial one.

[–] mateomaui@reddthat.com 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Oh I know it’s absolutely ridiculous, but that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t try to use it like that anyway, unsuccessfully.

[–] scottywh@lemmy.world 3 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Well, we hope unsuccessfully anyway.

[–] mateomaui@reddthat.com 1 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

stares into the distance