Many believe that July 9, 2020 will go down in history. I know I do. For today, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that no one is above the law, and this principle applies to U.S. Presidents. Today the Supreme Court ruled that President Trump is not immune to having to give evidence — his financial records — in a state criminal probe against him in New York. it is Constitutional law of the land that “no citizen not even the president is above the duty to produce evidence in a criminal proceeding ” according to the Opinion. Seven justices ruled against Trump. Justice Roberts offered the opinion with historical references — the precedent in 1807 when former Vice President Aaron Burr was tried for treason. Burr subpoenaed President Thomas Jefferson. Chief Justice John Marshall required Jefferson to provide the evidence. John Marshall explained back then, a king is born to power and can “do no wrong.” Ibid. The President, by contrast, is “of the people” and subject to the law. So, the precedent was set back then in 1807, and this is our living Constitution in action.
The President, Marshall declared, back then, does not “stand ex- empt from the general provisions of the constitution” or, in particular, the Sixth Amendment’s guarantee that those ac- cused have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses for their defense. United States v. Burr, 25 F. Cas. 30, 33–34 (No. 14,692d) (CC Va. 1807). At common law the “single reservation” to the duty to testify in response to a subpoena was “the case of the king,” whose “dignity” was seen as “in- compatible” with appearing “under the process of the
6 TRUMP v. VANCE Opinion of the Court
court.” Id., at 34. But, as Marshall explained, a king is born to power and can “do no wrong.” Ibid. The President, by contrast, is “of the people” and subject to the law. Ibid.
The ruling is here: https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/19pdf/19-635_o7jq.pdf
Don’t let anyone tell you that our Constitution is just a document. It is guiding us every day.