General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsJohn Roberts' Secret Trump Memo Revealed in Huge SCOTUS Leak
Original reporting: How Roberts Shaped Trumps Supreme Court Winning Streak (New York Times)
Alternate link: https://archive.is/4cUJ2#selection-647.0-647.55
________________________________________________
Source: The Daily Beast
John Roberts Secret Trump Memo Revealed in Huge SCOTUS Leak
A memo obtained by The New York Times indicated the chief justice wanted to act quickand decisivelyon Donald Trumps presidential immunity.
Corbin Bolies
Media Reporter
Updated Sep. 15, 2024 10:55AM EDT / Published Sep. 15, 2024 10:33AM EDT
The Supreme Court was hit by a flurry of damaging new leaks Sunday as a series of confidential memos written by the chief justice were revealed by The New York Times.
The courts Chief Justice John Roberts was clear to his fellow justices in February: He wanted the court to take up a case weighing Donald Trumps right to presidential immunityand he seemed inclined to protect the former president.
I think it likely that we will view the separation of powers analysis differently, Roberts wrote to his Supreme Court peers, according to a private memo obtained by the Times. He was referencing the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals decision to allow the case to move forward.
Roberts took an unusual level of involvement in this and other cases that ultimately benefited Trump, according to the Timeshis handling of the cases surprised even some other justices on the high court, across ideological lines. As president, Trump appointed three of the members of its current conservative supermajority.
-snip-
Read more: https://www.thedailybeast.com/john-roberts-secret-trump-memo-revealed-in-huge-scotus-leak
Alternate link: https://news.yahoo.com/news/john-roberts-secret-trump-memo-143303014.html
onecaliberal
(35,087 posts)malaise
(275,379 posts)Have another seizure
11 Bravo
(24,042 posts)malaise
(275,379 posts)For that way out
rampartd
(162 posts)is what the samaurai said as he prepared for the ritual.
as we have seen, these justices have no shame.
Moostache
(10,043 posts)It is impossible to embarass, shame or get them to recognize their own malfeasance. You cannot shame them into anything because the concept does not exist in their hideous world.
PedroXimenez
(310 posts)Buckeyeblue
(5,638 posts)It just makes the argument to expand the court even stronger.
Carlitos Brigante
(26,726 posts)superpatriotman
(6,449 posts)And work towards term limiting all public servants. No more lifetime appointments.
JHB
(37,282 posts)they sure are...
Trueblue1968
(17,766 posts)Id say more like a violation of the Truth In Advertisinh Act.
BattleRow
(656 posts)Except their shelf life needs to have a shorter expiration date.
DSandra
(1,035 posts)More like Dangerously Extreme Regressives, wanting to bring a dark ages upon America.
Evolve Dammit
(18,001 posts)cynical_idealist
(416 posts)and the whole gop
lindysalsagal
(21,913 posts)Biophilic
(4,440 posts)I figure they were bought by American oligarchs and they are fine with tearing this country apart.
rubbersole
(8,008 posts)JHB
(37,282 posts)Don't need the Russkies for that.
Farmer-Rick
(10,955 posts)To visit his golden Palace in 2003. It wouldn't surprise me if Putin has met with all 5 compromised justices.
But yeah, the crazy 5 Supreme Court justices are traitors and sell outs. But nothingo to see here. They just happen to have a bunch of foreign friends who are all so very wealthy and are known dictators and despots.
Kid Berwyn
(17,145 posts)Lock them up.
Hekate
(93,572 posts)The rot goes deep.
I feel sorry for Kagen, Sotomayor, and Jackson-Brown, to have to work with such scum.
slightlv
(3,727 posts)THIS is the court the Democratic women get to serve with. What a let down it must be for them!
MontanaMama
(23,855 posts)to expose the rot within their ranks. Not only for every single woman in this country but also in memory of RBG.
DSandra
(1,035 posts)wordstroken
(582 posts)Aristus
(67,624 posts)Thanks in advance.
patphil
(6,759 posts)And so, he returned the favor.
uponit7771
(91,148 posts)infullview
(1,023 posts)If the senate voted to change the rules so you only need 50+ votes to pass a law, does that include a vote to impeach a judge or does this still take a 2/3rds vote?
Bev54
(11,420 posts)conservative justices will go down as party to an attempted coup. They all need to go.
peppertree
(22,587 posts)Roberts and his Pot-o'gold.
ellemb
(53 posts)peppertree
(22,587 posts)A corpse flower, I'd say (stinks to high heaven - just like their finances).
Captain Zero
(7,302 posts)yep.
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(112,792 posts)mtngirl47
(1,046 posts)JHB
(37,282 posts)moniss
(5,023 posts)about whether Roberts would take extraordinary steps regarding this defendant. I know people have felt my assertion was rash that he might step in to have the SC take an appeal when the presiding Associate Justice for that jurisdiction had turned it away. This should remove the doubt. This memo is an incredibly inappropriate thing for Roberts to have done.
When you combine the clear demonstration of prejudice on the issues for this defendant along with his absolute absence on the financial and conduct indiscretions of Thomas and Alito there is more than enough reason to justifiably call for his resignation. Remember that this is the same Roberts who declines Congressional inquiry and asserts, along with Alito, that Congress has no authority with the SC other than giving advise and consent for judicial nominations.
GiqueCee
(1,190 posts)... that swept in to a Florida elections office to stop the recount even before the corrupt Rehnquist Court handed down its order to do so.
NO judge or justice should have ANY political affiliation, by law, and no politician should have any say in the nomination process, especially the President, who is the most partisan politician in the country.
"Justice Is Blind", my ass.
moniss
(5,023 posts)was known to have participated in voter suppression efforts before he moved into being a judge.
Just think how stupid this country looks when just a few years ago if you admitted to having smoked a joint you were immediately declared unfit for high office or the Federal Bench but if you openly and knowingly took part in violating people's voting rights then you were perfectly acceptable. It wasn't until we got past the foolishness of "I didn't inhale" that even a tiny bit of sanity regarding pot use when young came about.
mahina
(18,650 posts)rubbersole
(8,008 posts)Duncan Grant
(8,406 posts)One cant speak of these things without sounding conspiratorial, but this Roberts memo is interesting evidence.
Bookmarking this thread. Ill be interested to see what it looks like a year from now.
BWdem4life
(2,156 posts)uponit7771
(91,148 posts)yankee87
(2,292 posts)I am still in disbelief at how fast a country can go into full blown fascism. Maybe we are in end stage capitalism and fascism naturally comes next. I know the people on this forum will fight with their lives to prevent this.
MontanaMama
(23,855 posts)The SCOTUS leaks...any bets on where they are coming from? Inside the house?
PuraVidaDreamin
(4,211 posts)They waited until the last day of the session to announce their decision.
So blatant and in our face they continue to erode Democracy for their friends, the billionaires and
other corporate persons.
mountain grammy
(27,014 posts)Seinan Sensei
(595 posts)Others say: "I call 'em as I see 'em"
Umpire Roberts says: "They are what I call 'em"
No attempt at judicial objectivity.
He moves the ballgame any direction he wants to.
BoRaGard
(2,175 posts)flying_wahini
(7,717 posts)Will Harris? I sure hope so. If we can win both houses I suspect we will see big changes. If we lose
J_William_Ryan
(1,969 posts)Which is why its perfectly appropriate to assume that the Courts conservatives would act to facilitate installing Trump as president.
kentuck
(112,287 posts)As I recall, that was the way that Roberts became Chief Justice?
tritsofme
(18,037 posts)orangecrush
(21,039 posts)Baitball Blogger
(47,486 posts)ecstatic
(33,994 posts)When we have the majority again, we MUST act on the supreme court, electoral college, and all the other urgent democracy-related issues.
Marigold
(61 posts)So worried about the legitimacy and legacy of the court? I guess this is the source of the stench Sotomayor was speaking of.
BattleRow
(656 posts)It's just us now,folks..and our votes.
Silent Type
(5,583 posts)but didn't.
SunSeeker
(53,154 posts)Fucking sickening.
dchill
(39,718 posts)Especially the specific Roberts quote. Anyway, it's not secret anymore, is it.
UpInArms
(51,556 posts)These people do not have any allegiance to the constitution or country.
DSandra
(1,035 posts)And is not going to let a mere Constitution stop him from doing so.
Charmin One
(133 posts)Roberts has a CRIMINAL to protect
raging moderate
(4,469 posts)They want to go back about a thousand years to the absolute reign of despots, to the era when the rulers believed they should have absolute control because "Might makes Right!" They want Feudalism!
c-rational
(2,808 posts)and form your own theological kingdom
PATRICK
(12,238 posts)of the Bush/Cheney cabal this is a reminder how some of the GOP "defectors" are really playing the game. (on edit; Robert in charge of Florida steal 2000 legal team)They protect the goofus for the long game and down ticket and want to scoop them up if they ever can find another ridiculous candidate totally under their control.
PufPuf23
(9,124 posts)Traitor, grifter and Catholic zealot of lies.
polichick
(37,420 posts)BWdem4life
(2,156 posts)But usually change is maddeningly slow in manifesting itself.
ArmedLiberal24
(54 posts)America is fed up with planted SCOTUS members who only care about protecting Trump and other Republicans and Republican issues. These betrayers to the oaths that they have taken not only serve evil people like Trump but evil people including themselves(Clarence). And now the SCOTUS is being observed very closely by the government and by ordinary citizens. These people are so full of what they think is power and power at their choice and time whenever they want to use it!. They are sadly mistaken. WE THE PEOPLE have the true power. And we will not allow these 6 members to aid in the destruction of our country.They are installed to serve justice not DICtatorships !!!. TRE45ON.
ArmedLiberal24
(54 posts)byronius
(7,524 posts)Thats a job requiring behavior beyond reproach but hes just another toady. Tiny criminal just like the rest of them.
spanone
(137,267 posts)tishaLA
(14,270 posts)But my god is it depressing. It confirms that our court hAs been taken over by a group of overzealous ideologue. The only conservative justice who appears to have anything approaching a conscience is Barrett.
LetMyPeopleVote
(152,007 posts)I am shocked that I agree with the NYT on anything
Link to tweet
I posted on the article from the Times
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100219466956
Beartracks
(13,215 posts)... the fact that they ever accused supposedly liberal judges of being "activist judges" was simply a broadcast of their OWN very real activist intentions when appointing conservative judges anywhere in the judiciary.
==================
travelingthrulife
(285 posts)LetMyPeopleVote
(152,007 posts)Here is a NYT article on Roberts' role is the SCOTUS efforts to help re-elect TFG. Roberts actions in these cases are really sickening and show that Robert and the other five conservatives have been actively attempting to help TFG in his legal issues. I have had issues with Roberts since the Shelby County case where Roberts gutted the voting rights act. Robert has now confirmed that he is a partisan hack.
This a NYT article that has some good facts. I think that the facts in this article show that Roberts is a partisan hack. The NYT does not go that far but provides enough facts to show that control of the SCOTUS is a key issue. This immunity ruling needs to be either overturned by adding more justices to the court or with the Presidential Immunity Act which contains a provision divesting SCOTUS with jurisdiction over this issue. The naked partisanship of the SCOTUS needs to be addressed if VP Harris wins and the Democrats have control over the Senate and the House.
Link to tweet
https://www.nytimes.com/subscription/onboarding-offer?EXIT_URI=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.nytimes.com%252F2024%252F09%252F15%252Fus%252Fjustice-roberts-trump-supreme-court.html%253Funlocked_article_code%253D1.K04.mC2X.k9K6vnKaQdt6%2526smid%253Dem-share&auth=login-google1tap&campaignId=7JFJX&login=google1tap
Former President Donald J. Trump, seeking to retake the White House, had made a bold, last-ditch appeal to the justices. He wanted them to block his fast-approaching criminal trial on charges of attempting to overturn the 2020 election, arguing that he was protected by presidential immunity. Whatever move the court made could have lasting consequences for the next election, the scope of presidential power and the courts own battered reputation......
The chief justice wrote the majority opinions in all three cases, including an unsigned one in March concluding that the former president could not be barred from election ballots in Colorado.
Another case involved a highly unusual switch. In April, the chief justice assigned Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. to write a majority opinion saying that prosecutors had gone too far in bringing obstruction charges against some Capitol rioters. But in late May, the chief justice took it over.
I read the immunity opinion and was shocked at how poorly reasoned such opinion was. This opinion looked like it was written by a non-lawyer like Stephen Miller. Robert's analysis was really weak. I am happy to see that I was not the only lawyer who was truly offended by Roberts' reasoning in the immunity opinion
But the public response to the decision, announced in July on the final day of the term, was nothing like what his lofty phrases seemed to anticipate.......
Its a strange, sprawling opinion, said William Baude, a University of Chicago law professor and a former clerk to the chief justice. Its hard to tell what exactly it is trying to do.
Others said the ruling was untethered from the law. Its certainly not really tied to the Constitution, said Stephen R. McAllister, a law professor at University of Kansas and former clerk to Justice Clarence Thomas.
Roberts has shown himself to be a partisan hack. The immunity ruling was really poorly reasoned and has the effect of making the POTUS into a king as noted by Justice Sotomayor
The courts leader shot back that the liberal justices strike a tone of chilling doom that is wholly disproportionate to what the court actually does today.
There at least two proposals pending to undo the immunity ruling that need to be addressed. Roberts proving himself to be a partisan hack makes control of the SCOTUS a key issue this cycle.
Martin68
(24,058 posts)uponit7771
(91,148 posts)B.See
(2,830 posts)SC thugs and the ones busting out the windows of our parked vehicles are, the latter
1. don't wear robes
2. aren't being highly paid for their crimes
3. don't engage in PRETENSE at integrity.
Which makes the former FAR WORSE.
czarjak
(12,171 posts)W can still KMA. Someone said we'd be stuck with them for decades. On the bright side, Baptists and Catholics have never been so unified. Huh?
wolfie001
(3,079 posts)Remember, Robert's wife is a participant in this as well. She's a far-right consultant in these matters. They're both misguided religious wackjobs. Ditto Ginny Thomas and Alito's wife assisting from the "bench".