The Supreme Court: The Only American Institution Left Standing

In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court ruled that states cannot exclude former President Donald Trump from state ballots based on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment due to his alleged involvement in the events of Jan. 6, 2021.

Many on the left were shocked to learn that state officials do not have the authority to remove leading presidential candidates from ballots based on their perception of their actions.

Once someone is convinced that Trump was behind a significant threat to democracy, any legal attempt to prevent him from running seems not only justified but also legally valid.

Last week, there was anger from progressives that the Supreme Court did not accelerate Trump’s immunity claims to coincide with President Biden’s campaign schedule.

The issue at hand highlights the difficulty the Left, as well as anyone obsessed with Trump, faces in understanding the concept of impartiality in law and principle.

For example, the Associated Press framed the court’s decision as “Supreme Court restores Trump to ballot, rejecting state attempts to hold him accountable for the attack on the Capitol in 2021.”

However, the reality is quite different: SCOTUS ruled on a constitutional question. Whether Colorado believes it is holding Trump accountable — especially the claim of his involvement in an “insurrection” — is a separate matter.

Ultimately, this case serves as a reminder that the Supreme Court is arguably the only functioning government institution.

By “functioning,” it is meant that the court takes its constitutional mandate seriously, as it is written.

Although the Court does not always make the right decisions, it adheres to normal processes. Congress, on the other hand, has largely delegated its responsibilities to the executive branch, leading to a lack of action on crucial matters.

Currently, members of Congress are more likely to engage in social media disputes than to fulfill their obligations to uphold the Constitution.

Additionally, Democrats often support increased executive power, allowing the White House to make regulatory decisions without adequate oversight.

Biden’s disregard for the court is evident in actions like the student loan “forgiveness” plan, which he proposes as a means to appeal to younger voters.

Despite some critiques, the Colorado ballot case was weak enough that even Justice Sonia Sotomayor could not support the Democratic arguments. This serves as a rare instance where originalist justices prevented chaos from prevailing.

In July 2020, the Supreme Court had a 58% approval rating. However, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer had threatened the justices months earlier if they did not align with the Democratic Party’s desires, illustrating the increased politicization of the Court.

Since then, a coalition among donors, politicians, and major media outlets has sought to undermine the Court’s legitimacy, resulting in a decline in approval ratings, particularly among left-wing voters.

Despite these challenges, the majority of justices have remained steadfast in upholding the rule of law, free from the influence of public opinion. This adherence to judicial principles is unsettling for those who believe the Court requires higher public approval.

Every time the Left faces a setback at SCOTUS, they often accuse the justices of corruption, even though many of them have demonstrated consistent judicial philosophies. The current trend of conflicts with the Court stems from fundamental differences in governance ideology.

If the Left cannot dismantle the Court, there is a possibility that blue states may choose to disregard its decisions. For now, the Supreme Court remains a crucial institution safeguarding against lawlessness and irrational actions.

David Harsanyi is a senior editor at The Federalist.