Payam Javan: The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that presidents have immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts but not for unofficial acts. This decision favors former President Donald Trump, who will likely face an easier trial in Washington.

Trump had requested the court to rule that he had immunity from criminal prosecution for his official acts unless Congress impeached and convicted him. The court’s decision emphasized that the presidential power structure grants former presidents absolute immunity for official actions but not for unofficial acts.

Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion, with dissents from Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson, Elena Kagan, and Sonia Sotomayor. The case will be remanded to the district court in Washington to distinguish between official and private acts. This ruling echoes the 1982 Nixon v. Fitzgerald decision, which granted presidents absolute immunity from civil liability for their official duties.