Supreme Court: Trump must respond to special counsel’s presidential immunity petition before Christmas

The Court’s next scheduled conference day for consideration is Jan. 5, 2024

Bradford Betz / Fox News

The Supreme Court has indicated it will expedite consideration of a petition by special counsel Jack Smith on whether former President Donald Trump can be prosecuted on charges he plotted to overturn the 2020 election results.

Smith made his request for the court to act with unusual speed to prevent any delays that could push back the trial until after next year's presidential election.

Trump's trial in the election interference case is set to begin in March. 

The Court has asked Trump’s lawyers to respond to the special counsel's motion by next Wednesday, December 20 – two days later than Smith had requested. 

The Court’s next scheduled conference day for consideration of such matters is Jan. 5, 2024. The court's brief order did not signal what it ultimately would do.

A federal judge ruled the case could go forward, but Trump said he would ask the federal appeals court in Washington to reverse that outcome. Read more and see video here.