10.3 Presidential Compliance with Court Decisions

Presidential compliance with court decisions is a crucial aspect of the American system of checks and balances. This topic explores instances where presidents have defied or complied with court rulings, highlighting the tension between executive power and judicial authority.

The consequences of presidential defiance and the importance of executive branch compliance are examined. These examples illustrate how the relationship between the president and the judiciary shapes the balance of power in the U.S. government.

Presidential Defiance of Court Rulings

Instances of Presidential Defiance

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• Andrew Jackson defied the Supreme Court's ruling in Worcester v. Georgia (1832) which held that the Cherokee Nation was a sovereign entity and that the state of Georgia had no authority to enforce its laws on Cherokee lands, but Jackson reportedly said "John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it" and proceeded with the forced relocation of Native Americans (Trail of Tears)
• Richard Nixon initially refused to comply with a subpoena to release the Watergate tapes, leading to a constitutional crisis and the Supreme Court's ruling in United States v. Nixon (1974) which held that the president is not immune from judicial process
• Donald Trump's executive orders on immigration, such as the travel ban on several Muslim-majority countries, faced legal challenges and were initially blocked by federal courts, leading to a battle between the executive and judicial branches until the Supreme Court ultimately upheld a revised version of the ban in Trump v. Hawaii (2018)
• These instances of presidential defiance can lead to constitutional crises where the separation of powers and the authority of the judiciary are challenged, testing the checks and balances system

Consequences and Resolutions

• Presidential defiance of court rulings can undermine the rule of law and the authority of the judicial branch, setting a dangerous precedent for executive overreach
• In the case of Worcester v. Georgia, Jackson's defiance led to the forced relocation and deaths of thousands of Native Americans, a dark chapter in U.S. history
• The Watergate scandal and Nixon's defiance ultimately led to his resignation and a reaffirmation of the principle that no one, including the president, is above the law
• Trump's battles with the courts over his immigration orders highlighted the tension between executive power and judicial review, with the Supreme Court ultimately upholding a revised version of the travel ban but also asserting the judiciary's role in checking executive actions

Executive Branch Compliance

Instances of Compliance

• President Dwight D. Eisenhower enforced the Supreme Court's ruling in Brown v. Board of Education (1954) which held that segregated schools were unconstitutional, sending federal troops to Little Rock, Arkansas to escort African American students to a previously all-white high school and ensure compliance with the court's decision
• Presidents generally comply with court decisions, even when they disagree with them, as part of their duty to faithfully execute the laws and uphold the Constitution
• The executive branch is responsible for enforcing court decisions and ensuring that they are carried out, such as implementing desegregation orders or providing relief to plaintiffs who have won lawsuits against the government

Balancing Executive Power and Judicial Authority

• Executive orders and other presidential actions are subject to judicial review to ensure they comply with the Constitution and existing laws
• Courts can strike down executive orders or actions that exceed the president's authority or violate constitutional rights, serving as a check on executive power (Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer)
• Presidents can challenge court rulings through appeals or by seeking to appoint judges who share their legal philosophy, but they cannot simply ignore or defy court decisions without facing consequences
• Compliance with court rulings, even when the executive branch disagrees with them, is essential to maintaining the rule of law and the separation of powers, preventing any one branch from becoming too powerful and ensuring that the Constitution remains the supreme law of the land