Jack Smith, special counsel, seeks Supreme Court intervention regarding Trump's immunity claim

A special counsel has asked the US Supreme Court to decide whether former President Donald Trump can be prosecuted for an alleged plan to overturn the 2020 election results. Jack Smith, the special counsel, wants a quick ruling from the top court on Trump's claim of presidential immunity. This request comes after Trump sought a delay in his trial while an appeals court considers the matter. The trial is currently scheduled to start on March 4th in Washington DC. Smith argues in his petition to the Supreme Court that this case raises a fundamental question about whether a former President is immune from federal prosecution for crimes committed while in office or if they are protected from federal prosecution when they have been impeached but not convicted prior to the start of criminal proceedings. Smith's intention is to speed up the review process of Trump's appeals, which can often take months or even years in the US court system. If Trump's appeal delays the trial until after the November 2024 election, it could result in him potentially returning to the White House before his case is fully resolved, leading to further legal complications. In his petition, Smith emphasizes the urgency of resolving Trump's claims of immunity by the Supreme Court and proceeding with the trial promptly if his claim of immunity is rejected. On December 1st, US District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is overseeing Trump's trial, denied the former president's original request for immunity. Trump is currently facing multiple civil and criminal charges, including another case related to mishandling classified material after leaving office.