FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, July 1, 2024

Contact: Tony Mangan, Communications Director, 605-773-6878

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley supports the U.S. Supreme Court decision that former President Donald Trump is immune for official acts done while in office, but not necessarily private acts.

Justices ruled 6-3 Monday that Presidents have immunity for official acts. The Court also ordered the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to determine whether any of Former President Trump’s actions on Jan. 6, 2021 fall under official or private acts.

“Presidents need immunity protection for their official acts,” said Attorney General Jackley. “To undermine this basic legal principle for political reasons would have been damaging.”

Attorney General Jackley was among 22 Attorneys General who filed an amicus brief supporting the former President’s stay request regarding presidential immunity. Former President Trump had asked the Supreme Court to stay a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit which said Trump could not invoke presidential immunity as a defense against criminal charges related to the 2020 presidential election and the Jan. 6, 2021 incident at the U.S. Capitol.

The Supreme Court decision can be read here: