Sun Sep 15 16:38:50 UTC 2024: ## Roberts’s Supreme Court Maneuvers: A Look Inside the Trump Immunity Case
**By Josh Blackman**
The New York Times’ Jodi Kantor and Adam Liptak offer a glimpse into the inner workings of the Supreme Court, specifically detailing Chief Justice Roberts’s maneuvering in the recent Trump immunity case. While much can be inferred from the released opinions, the Times’ reporting, based on high-ranking sources within the Court, reveals previously unknown details.
The article highlights Roberts’s desire for a unanimous decision in the Trump v. Anderson case, where the Court ruled against removing Trump from the Colorado primary ballot. His efforts included consulting each justice individually, resulting in a narrow opinion that ultimately failed to achieve unanimity.
The authors delve deeper into the Fischer v. United States case, revealing that Justice Alito was initially assigned the majority opinion but was later replaced by Roberts, sparking surprise within the Court. The Times suggests this change may be connected to the controversy surrounding an upside-down flag flown at the Alito’s home after the January 6th insurrection.
Kantor and Liptak also expose Justice Jackson’s key role in the Fischer case. Initially siding with the liberals, she ultimately shifted her vote, joining the conservatives, after securing a concession: the case being sent back to lower courts for reconsideration.
The article further reveals Chief Justice Roberts’s proactive approach in the Trump immunity case. A confidential memo he sent to his colleagues on February 22nd urging the Court to grant review demonstrates his clear stance and early influence in the case.
Despite Roberts’s attempts at consensus, the final vote on the immunity case was a 6-3 split, with Justice Barrett dissenting on several points. Notably, Roberts’s clerks were deeply involved in the rewriting of the majority opinion, highlighting the extraordinary workload he faced.
The article concludes by highlighting the shift in Roberts’s approach compared to the Dobbs case, where he appeared to lose control of the Court. Now, he seems determined to assert his authority, pushing his Court to the right in cases like the Trump immunity case.
The Times’ reporting offers a fascinating insight into the internal dynamics of the Supreme Court, revealing the behind-the-scenes strategies and the complex interplay between justices during high-profile cases.
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