Generational Trauma
A recent Supreme Court ruling brought up feelings of generational trauma for me.
Supreme CourtRuling
On July 1, 2024, the Supreme Court ruled that presidents and former presidents are mainly immune from criminal prosecution for official acts while in office. The court made this decision in a 6–3 ruling. While watching the news on public broadcasting in Southern California, a Supreme Court analyst, Marcia Coyle, speculated how this ruling might affect the president.
The chief justice said that certain core presidential powers are immune from prosecution. These powers include pardon power, recognition of foreign nations, and appointment of foreign ambassadors. The court said there’s a presumption of immunity for all other official acts. Applying criminal law here to an official act did not interfere with the authority and function of the executive branch.
The principal dissent came from Justice Sotomayor, who discussed frightening situations, specifically, criminal acts that a president could order in his official duties without checks and balances from the other branches of the federal government.
Project 2025.
The Heritage Foundation’s “Presidential Personnel Database” assesses various political stances, such…