3 JAN 2025 · As we step into 2025, the legal landscape for former President Donald Trump remains as complex and contentious as ever. Just a few days ago, on the cusp of the New Year, constitutional law expert Harold Krent, a professor at the Chicago-Kent College of Law, delved into the upcoming cases at the Supreme Court, including those involving Trump[3].
One of the most recent and intriguing developments is Trump's intervention in the TikTok case. Trump, now President-elect, has asked the Supreme Court to stay the law requiring TikTok to divest from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, by January 19th. This move is unprecedented, as it raises a presidential power issue under Article 2 that has never been discussed in court before. Trump's lawyer argues that his prerogatives as a future President should be preserved, suggesting that his deal-making expertise and electoral mandate could negotiate a resolution to save the platform while addressing national security concerns[3].
This case is particularly interesting because it opens a new can of worms regarding the powers of a President-elect. The Supreme Court's decision on whether to stay the case or not will have a significant impact on Trump's presidency and could set a new precedent.
Meanwhile, Trump's legal calendar is filled with other critical dates. In the DC Election Interference case, Trump has been battling various motions and deadlines. For instance, on October 3, 2024, Trump was due to submit a supplement to his motion to dismiss based on statutory grounds, and on October 10, 2024, he had to file objections to the proposed redactions in the government's motion for "Immunity Determinations"[1].
In Georgia, Mark Meadows, Trump's former chief of staff, has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court for a writ of certiorari following the 11th Circuit's decision to dismiss his bid to move his state criminal case to federal court. This case is part of a broader legal battle involving Trump and his associates[1].
In New York, Trump faces civil and criminal cases, including the election interference case where Justice Merchan is set to issue a decision on Trump's motion to set aside the jury's guilty verdicts based on the U.S. Supreme Court's Presidential Immunity decision[1][3].
As these cases unfold, the legal community is watching closely, anticipating how these decisions will shape the future of presidential immunity and the powers of a President-elect. With the Supreme Court set to rule on the TikTok case before the January 19th deadline, the next few weeks will be crucial in determining the trajectory of Trump's legal battles.