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Supreme Court Allows Trump to Move Forward with White House Ballroom Construction
Developing
In Short: The Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision, allowed the Trump Administration to proceed with construction of a ballroom at the White House, overriding lower court injunctions.
The Supreme Court on Monday granted an emergency request by the Trump Administration to move forward with the construction of a ballroom at the White House, despite legal challenges from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
The decision, which came after a 5-4 vote, allowed the Administration to continue with the project, which had been partially blocked by lower courts.
The legal challenge argued that the Trump Administration did not have the authority to build the ballroom without congressional approval, but the Supreme Court ruled that the National Trust lacked legal standing to sue.
In its ruling, the Supreme Court stated that it would not pass on the legality of the project, but concluded that the National Trust was unlikely to have standing to challenge the project in federal court.
The decision came after Chief Justice John Roberts had issued a temporary stay on the lower court injunction on August 21, allowing construction to proceed while the full court deliberated.
Background
In most legal jurisdictions, a supreme court, also known as a court of last resort, apex court, high court of appeal, and court of final appeal, is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts. Broadly speaking, the decisions of a supreme court are binding on all other courts in a nation and are not subject to further review by any other court.
What's confirmed
What's still developing
- The Supreme Court on Monday allowed Trump to move forward with construction of the ballroom, which had been partially blocked by lower courts.
- Divided 5-4, the Supreme Court granted an emergency request filed by the Trump Administration earlier in August, staying the lower court rulings.
- The legal challenge to the construction, brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, argued that Trump did not have the authority to build the ballroom without congressional approval.
- The Supreme Court ruled on procedural grounds that the trust likely does not have legal standing to sue.
- “Today, we do not pass upon the legality of the government’s East Wing project. We conclude only that, based on the submissions before us, the government is likely to prevail in showing that the Trust lacks...…
- The decision comes after Chief Justice John Roberts issued a temporary stay on the lower court injunction on Aug. 21, allowing above-ground construction to proceed while the full court deliberated.
- “I am pleased to report that the United States Supreme Court has just ruled in favor of the Ballroom/Military Complex being built without any further contingency, doubt, or threat,” Trump wrote.
- Since signing an executive order last March to “beautify” Washington, the Administration has completed a renovation of the Reflecting Pool, pursued an overhaul of the Kennedy Center, and announced plans to erect a…