Sotomayor's dissent: A president should not be a 'king above the law'

WASHINGTON (AP) — In an unsparing dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor said the Supreme Court allowed a president to become a “king above the law” in its ruling that limited the scope of criminal charges against former President Donald Trump for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol and efforts to overturn the election.

She called the decision, which likely ended the prospect of a trial for Trump before the November election, “utterly indefensible.”

“The court effectively creates a law-free zone around the president, upsetting the status quo that has existed since the founding,” she wrote. She was joined by liberal justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, who wrote another dissent referring to the ruling's consequences as a “five alarm fire.”

Sotomayor read her dissent aloud in the courtroom, with a weighty delivery that underscored her criticism of the majority. She strongly pronounced each word, pausing at certain moments and gritting her teeth at others.

“Ironic isn’t it? The man in charge of enforcing laws can now just break them,” Sotomayor said.

Chief Justice John Roberts accused the liberal justices of fearmongering in the 6-3 majority opinion. It found that presidents aren't above the law but must be entitled to presumptive immunity to allow them to forcefully exercise the office's far-reaching powers and avoid a vicious cycle of politically motivated prosecutions.

While the opinion allows for the possibility of prosecutions for private acts, Sotomayor said it “deprives these prosecutions of any teeth” by excluding any evidence that related to official acts where the president is immune.

“This majority’s project will have disastrous consequences for the presidency and for our democracy,” she said. She ended by saying, “With fear for our democracy, I dissent.”

Trump, for his part, has denied doing anything wrong and has said this prosecution and three others are politically motivated to try to keep him from returning to the White House.

The other justices looked on in silence and largely remained still as Sotomayor spoke, with Justice Samuel Alito shuffling through papers and appearing to study them.

Sotomayor pointed to historical evidence, from the founding fathers to Watergate, that presidents could potentially face prosecution. She took a jab at the conservative majority that has made the nation's history a guiding principle on issues like guns and abortion. “Interesting, history matters, right?”

Then she looked at the courtroom audience and concluded, “Except here.”

The majority feared that the threat of potential prosecution could constrain a president or create a “cycle of factional strife,” that the founders intended to avoid.

Sotomayor, on the other handed, pointed out that presidents have access to extensive legal advice about their actions and that criminal cases typically face high bars in court to proceed.

“It is a far greater danger if the president feels empowered to violate federal criminal law, buoyed by the knowledge of future immunity,” she said. “I am deeply troubled by the idea ... that our nation loses something valuable when the president is forced to operate within the confines of federal criminal law.”

Associated Press writer Stephen Groves contributed to this story.

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Chesapeake, Va., Friday, June 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

The Supreme Court opinion in former President Donald Trump's immunity case is photographed Monday, July 1, 2024. In a historic ruling the justices said for the first time former presidents can be shielded from prosecution for at least some of what they do in the Oval Office. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick)

FILE - The Supreme Court building is seen on June 27, 2024, in Washington. Supreme Court justices will take the bench Monday, July 1, to release their last few opinions of the term, including their most closely watched case: whether former President Donald Trump has immunity from criminal prosecution. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

People protest outside the Supreme Court Monday, July 1, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)

FILE - Members of the Supreme Court sit for a group portrait in Washington, Oct. 7, 2022. Bottom row, from left, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Justice Clarence Thomas, Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Samuel Alito and Justice Elena Kagan. Top row, from left, Justice Amy Coney Barrett, Justice Neil Gorsuch, Justice Brett Kavanaugh, and Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. The Supreme Court justices will take the bench Monday, July 1, 2024, to release their last few opinions of the term, including their most closely watched case: whether former President Donald Trump has immunity from criminal prosecution. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

FILE - Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor attends a panel discussion, Feb. 23, 2024 in Washington. The Supreme Court allowed a president to become a "king above the law," in the use of official power, Sotomayor said in a biting dissent Monday, July 1, that called the majority opinion on immunity for former President Donald Trump "utterly indefensible." Joined by the court's two other liberals, Sotomayor said the opinion would have disastrous consequences for the presidency and the nation's democracy by creating a "law-free zone around the president." (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

LONDON (AP) — Get caught up at Wimbledon with a guide that tells you everything you need to know about how to watch the grass-court Grand Slam tennis tournament, what the betting odds are, what the schedule is and more:

— In the U.S.: Tennis Channel, ESPN.

— Other countries are listed here.

No. 1 seed Iga Swiatek and No. 2 Coco Gauff are listed as the two favorites — both at +150 — to make it to the women's final, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. They could only meet each other at that stage. Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz's next match is Friday against Frances Tiafoe in the third round. It's a rematch of a 2022 U.S. Open semifinal won in five sets by Alcaraz, and he is listed as a heavy money-line favorite at -1600 to win again; Tiafoe is at +750.

This will be an all-in-all British day — off the courts and on. There's a national election happening, first of all. And at the All England Club, all eyes will be on Andy Murray as he steps on Centre Court alongside his older brother, Jamie, to play men's doubles. Murray, a two-time singles champion at Wimbledon, says this will be his last year playing at the grass-court event before he retires, and he is also entered into mixed doubles with Emma Raducanu. But he pulled out of singles after having back surgery on June 22. That men's doubles match is last in the main stadium, so could start at around 6 p.m. local time (1700 GMT, 1 p.m. EDT). Before that, action in the main stadium begins with a British player, Jacob Fearnley, taking on Novak Djokovic at 1:30 p.m. (1230 GMT, 8:30 a.m. EDT), followed by Iga Swiatek against Petra Martic. Over in No. 1 Court, there will be all-British contests, with Katie Boulter against Harriet Dart at 1 p.m. (1200 GMT, 8 a.m. EDT), and Jack Draper against Cam Norrie. The day's last match in that arena is Alexander Zverev vs. Marcos Giron.

Second-round winners included Coco Gauff and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, who both advanced in straight sets, and No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who needed four sets — three of them tiebreakers — to get past 2021 runner-up Matteo Berrettini in an all-Italian matchup on Centre Court. Emma Navarro, a 23-year-old American, reached the third round at the All England Club for the first time by eliminating four-time major champion Naomi Osaka 6-4, 6-1 in under an hour. Seeded players who lost included No. 8 Casper Ruud, No. 17 Felix Auger-Aliassime and No. 26 Francisco Cerundolo. There was off-and-on rain that led to the postponements of some matches, including those involving Madison Keys, Marta Kostyuk, Grigor Dimitrov and Ben Shelton, and suspensions of others.

— Thursday: Second Round (Women and Men)

— Friday and Saturday: Third Round (Women and Men)

— Sunday and Monday: Fourth Round (Women and Men)

— July 9-10: Quarterfinals (Women and Men)

— July 11: Women’s Semifinals

— July 12: Men’s Semifinals

— July 13: Women’s Final

— July 14: Men’s Final

Try your hand at the AP’s quiz about Wimbledon.

What to read:

— Emma Navarro’s mental notes help her beat former No. 1 Naomi Osaka at Wimbledon

— Andy Murray is getting set to say farewell to Wimbledon before retirement (probably)

— Young British players boost local hopes at Wimbledon for another homegrown champion

— Even the best of the best in tennis get nervous before the first round of a Slam

— Marketa Vondrousova's title defense is already over

— Novak Djokovic wears a sleeve over his surgically repaired knee in a win at Wimbledon

— Wimbledon favorite Aryna Sabalenka withdraws with a shoulder injury

— 2023 French Open runner-up Karolina Muchova is back on tour after 10 months away

— Naomi Osaka's agency has signed 15-year-old Australian tennis player Cooper Kose

— Iga Swiatek calls herself a perfectionist and now she wants to improve on grass

— Wimbledon’s qualifying rounds are the tournament before the tournament

— Rafael Nadal is skipping Wimbledon to prepare for the Paris Olympics

— An outside review says the U.S. Tennis Association can do more to protect players

3 — Consecutive Grand Slam tournaments at which Coco Gauff has reached at least the semifinals, the longest active streak for a woman.

77 — The combined age of Stan Wawrinka and Gael Monfils, making theirs the oldest matchup in men's singles at Wimbledon since 1971. Their match was suspended because of darkness Wednesday with Monfils up two sets to none and the score at 5-all in the third.

“Literally, like, 10 seconds.” — Emma Raducanu, when asked how long it took her to accept Andy Murray's offer to team up in mixed doubles.

“I start hearing, ‘Daniil, it’s 6-3! 6-3! I’m like, ’What are you talking about?'” — Daniil Medvedev, who sat down on his sideline chair thinking he had lost an opening-set tiebreaker against Alexandre Muller by a 7-3 score, when it wasn't actually over yet. He resumed playing, dropped the next point and that set, and then wound up winning in four sets.

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Jack Draper of Britain plays a backhand return to Elias Ymer of Sweden during their first round match at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Tuesday, July 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Britain's Katie Boulter on the practice court at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London, Saturday June 29, 2024. The Wimbledon Championships begin on July 1. (John Walton/PA via AP)

Emma Raducanu of Britain celebrates after defeating Elise Mertens of Belgium in their match on day three at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Andy Murray, left, and Jamie Murray stand on the practise courts on day two of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Tuesday July 2, 2024. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)

Novak Djokovic of Serbia sits in his chair as ground staff look on during a training session on Court 2 at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London, Friday, June 28, 2024. The Wimbledon Championships begin on July 1. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Britain's Andy Murray at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club ahead of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Sunday, June 30, 2024. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz plays a shot on the practice court at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, ahead of the Wimbledon Championships, which begins on July 1st, in London, Friday June 28, 2024. (Zac Goodwin/PA via AP)

Italy's Jannik Sinner plays a shot on the practice court at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club ahead of the Wimbledon Championships, which begins on July 1st, in London, Friday June 28, 2024. (Zac Goodwin/PA via AP)

Tennis players train as a member of ground staff waters the plants at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London, Friday, June 28, 2024. The Wimbledon Championships begin on July 1. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Poland's Iga Swiatek plays a volley on the practice court at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club ahead of the Wimbledon Championships, which begins on July 1st, in London, Friday June 28, 2024. (Zac Goodwin/PA via AP)

Novak Djokovic of Serbia serves during a training session on Court 2 at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London, Friday, June 28, 2024. The Wimbledon Championships begin on July 1. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

FILE - Andy Murray of Britain wipes his face as he is injured during his men's singles match on day five of The Queen's Club tennis tournament, in London, Wednesday, June 19, 2024. Two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray still had not decided as of Thursday whether he will be able to compete at the grass-court Grand Slam tournament that begins next week and he is likelier to enter doubles than singles if he can play at all after recent surgery to remove a cyst on his spinal cord. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz walks after a training session at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon ahead of the Wimbledon Championships, London, Tuesday, June 25, 2024. The tournament starts July 1st. (John Walton/PA via AP)

Novak Djokovic during a training session at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon ahead of the Wimbledon Championships, which begins on July 1st, on Tuesday June 25, 2024. (John Walton/PA via AP)

Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka practicing at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon ahead of the Wimbledon Championships, which begins on July 1st, Wednesday June 26, 2024. (John Walton//PA via AP)

Italy's Jannik Sinner practices at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon ahead of the Wimbledon Championships, scheduled to begin on July, Wednesday June 26, 2024. (John Walton/PA via AP)

FILE - A view of the Venus Rosewater Dish - the Ladies' Singles Trophy, and the Gentlemen's Singles Trophy, during the presentation to the media, ahead of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, in London, Saturday June 26, 2021. This year's Wimbledon tournament begins on Monday, July 1. (Thomas Lovelock/Pool via AP, File)

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz practises at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, ahead of the Wimbledon Championships, which begin on July 1st, in London, Thursday June 27, 2024. (Zac Goodwin/PA via AP)

FILE - Spain's Carlos Alcaraz celebrates with the trophy after beating Serbia's Novak Djokovic to win the final of the men's singles on day fourteen of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Sunday, July 16, 2023. This year's Wimbledon tournament begins on Monday, July 1.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File

FILE - Czech Republic's Marketa Vondrousova celebrates with the trophy after beating Tunisia's Ons Jabeur in the women's singles final on day thirteen of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Saturday, July 15, 2023. This year's Wimbledon tournament begins on Monday, July 1.(AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)

FILE - Stewards prepare for the start of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Sunday, June 30, 2019. This year's Wimbledon tournament begins on Monday, July 1.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)