OPINION | This article contains the author's opinion.
The Supreme Court’s decision to take up former President Donald Trump’s appeal of his case but maintain a stay on the proceedings provides a significant delay that benefits Trump in multiple ways.
By scheduling oral arguments for April, the trial in district court will likely not begin until late August at the earliest, pushing it deep into the midterm election season.
If Trump were to win the presidency in 2024, it could upend the legal landscape entirely.
While the Court did not endorse Trump’s broad theory of immunity, its intervention will push back the trial timeline substantially, even if the justices ultimately reject his claims on the merits.
For now, Trump has achieved his main goal of postponing accountability.