Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin criticized the Supreme Court for accepting former President Donald Trump's immunity case, alleging it aligns with Trump's interests.

Durbin (D-IL), whose committee has examined the high court's ethical considerations, expressed concern that the case's consideration could significantly postpone Trump's impending trial.

Dick Durbin torches Supreme Court for taking up Trump's immunity case: 'A disappointment' https://t.co/AriV2xXgf1 @nypost - I🇺🇸disagree w dear @SenatorDurbin. #Trump, as #POTUS, was wrong on #J6. Pelosi knew Senate wouldn’t convict & still impeached: now Trump has #DoubleJeopardy…

— Ravi Batra (@RaviBatra) March 4, 2024

The comments

"I think that is disappointing. I think the court has acted swiftly in the past when they recognized the presidential timetable was at stake. I am really concerned about what they have done," Durbin told CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday.

Trump faces a four-count criminal indictment for purportedly attempting to undermine the 2020 election, initially scheduled to commence Monday.

His legal team invoked presidential immunity grounds to appeal, arguing that Trump, as president, was fulfilling his duty to safeguard the election and hence not prosecutable.

US District Judge Tanya Chutkan and a three-judge panel on the US Circuit Court of Appeals rejected these claims.

The court's decision

The Supreme Court agreed to review the case last week. The high court seemed to overlook Trump's second argument—that the case should be dismissed on double jeopardy grounds due to his second impeachment.

Trump is widely thought to be seeking to prolong proceedings. If he can delay the trial until after the election and regain the presidency, he would have more options to potentially dismiss the case.

His first trial, involving 34 counts of allegedly falsifying documents to conceal hush money payments, is scheduled to begin on March 25.

Durbin's issues

Durbin, 79, emphasized his desire for the Supreme Court to expedite the Trump immunity case. The high court is slated to hear the case on April 22. Trump appointed one-third of the current justices.

Following ProPublica's reports last year on undisclosed benefits Justice Clarence Thomas received during his tenure, Durbin has spearheaded efforts to enhance ethics on the Supreme Court.

Durbin also weighed in on the Israel conflict, asserting Israel's right to self-defense but urging an end to hostilities to facilitate humanitarian aid for Palestinians.

The ongoing attacks have yet to stop Trump's comeback bid for president, with his popularity in polls growing ahead of the general election.