How Politics Is Made in the Courtroom
The rulings against Trump, Biden’s son Hunter, and on gun rights in the USA have sparked numerous discussions, highlighting the increasing politicization of US courts.
On Friday, the US Supreme Court overturned the only gun law tightening measure from the Trump era. This decision came after an incident in October 2017 where a gunman in Las Vegas fired over a thousand shots from a hotel room in just eleven minutes, resulting in the death of 60 people, prompting even the favorite of the gun lobby to acknowledge the need for action.
Former President Donald Trump had banned the so-called bump stocks, an accessory that can turn a semi-automatic weapon into a rapid-fire rifle capable of firing hundreds of rounds per minute.
Conservative Majority at the Supreme Court
With a proven conservative majority of 6-3, the Supreme Court justices declared the ban on bump stocks unconstitutional. The lawsuit was brought by a gun dealer from Texas. Trump views the rightward shift of the Supreme Court as one of the greatest achievements of his presidency, along with filling over 200 federal judge positions with staunch conservatives.
Politics are intertwined with justice in the US. Trump supporters applaud him for overturning nationwide abortion rights. This was made possible by Trump filling three vacant Supreme Court seats with conservative abortion opponents.
Hunter Biden Verdict – Relief for Democrats
Many Republicans would have preferred a different verdict as history was made for the second time in a brief period this week. Hunter Biden, son of Joe Biden, was found guilty of breaking gun laws, marking the first time a close family member of a sitting US president has been convicted in a criminal case.
To the discreet relief of the Democratic camp, it demonstrates that everyone, including presidential sons, is equal before the law. This outcome subtly vexes Republicans who would have liked to establish a precedent showing judicial bias in favor of the Biden camp. Therefore, the Trump camp is now trying to reinterpret the trial against Hunter Biden as a political distraction, shifting attention away from the alleged corruption within the Biden family.
Recent events in the US vividly expose the weaknesses of the American justice system. It’s acceptable at times to shape politics with like-minded individuals on the bench, but not always. Politically motivated court rulings are welcomed at times and condemned at others. While Justice can have a party affiliation, it should ideally align with one’s own. The reactions to the rulings against Donald Trump and Hunter Biden once again highlight this double standard.
Trump’s Stroke of Luck
Adding to the equation is the factor of chance. Supreme Court justices in the US are appointed for life. Their tenure and the unpredictability of who resides in the White House to nominate their successors are subject to chance.
Trump was remarkably fortunate to appoint three staunchly conservative individuals to the Supreme Court, tipping the balance to 6-3 in favor of conservatives. Biden has had only one replacement so far, with no indication of another on the horizon. Hence, crucial societal issues like abortion rights are now determined by conservatives for the foreseeable future. It’s no wonder then that few in the US are convinced that Justice is truly blind and that all are equal before the law.
Judgments Have Minimal Impact on Election Decisions
Furthermore, the incessant doubt cast by politics on the functionality of the rule of law is unhelpful. Trump shattered trust in democratic institutions and the media. For court proceedings, as for elections, Trump and his followers deem them fair only when favorable outcomes ensue.
It is somewhat reassuring that Americans are accustomed to these circumstances and have learned to navigate them. In a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll, 80% stated that Hunter Biden’s verdict wouldn’t influence their voting decision, while 61% affirmed that Trump’s condemnation wouldn’t affect where they cast their vote. While it may be concerning that the frontrunner according to this survey is a convicted criminal (Trump narrowly leads Biden in Reuters/Ipsos), it could also be interpreted as informed voter behavior, indicating that political sentiments in the US are gradually forming and not easily swayed.
Supreme Court to Rule on Presidential Immunity
Later this month, a landmark decision by the right-leaning Supreme Court on the immunity of a US president is anticipated. During his term, Trump emphasized that the three justices he appointed owed him a favor. He would like to be granted immunity by the highest court to dismiss the three pending lawsuits against him.
It is widely expected that the Supreme Court will rule that even presidents are not entirely above the law. Irrespective of the details of the decision, it’s certain that the verdict will promptly be denounced by someone as political agitation.
