Some Good News from SCOTUS

The Supreme Court has issued two rulings that are good news for opponents of the GOP consolidation of power and Donald Trump's criminal enterprise.

1. Marianne Dodson at the Daily Beast: Supreme Court Reaffirms 'Double Jeopardy' Exception with Mueller Probe Implications.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday reaffirmed a 170-year-old exception to the Constitution's double-jeopardy clause, and left the door open for state prosecutors to prosecute Trump campaign officials regardless of whether federal officials have already done so.

The case, Gamble v. United States, has drawn attention for its potential effect on Special Counsel Robert Mueller's federal prosecutions on Russian interference in the 2016 election. Had the 'dual sovereignty doctrine' been repealed, states would not be able to pursue investigations parallel to the federal government, the National Law Journal reports.

State prosecutors in New York have brought charges against former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort Jr., who was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison, in the event that [Donald] Trump pardons him.

2. Taegan Goddard at Political Wire: Virginia Democrats Win In Gerrymandering Case.

"The Supreme Court has ruled against the Virginia House of Delegates in a racial gerrymandering case that represents a victory for Democrats in the state," The Hill reports.

"In the 5-4 ruling, the justices found that the House didn't have the standing to appeal a lower court ruling that found that the new district maps must be used ahead of the 2020 election. Those new maps are already in use."

It represents a victory for Virginia Democrats and also for Black voters of Virginia, who will have fair(er) representation care of more fairly drawn districts.