There was never a possibility it would rule any other way. Now we just gotta wait for the inevitable stupid appeal to SCOTUS, and have it done with.

Now we just gotta wait for the inevitable stupid appeal to SCOTUS, and have it done with.

I believe he can request an en banc hearing, which he definitely will, because it will delay the proceedings further.

The three judge panel anticipated that these arguments are primarily delay tactics. They have said in the decision they will stay their ruling only for an appeal accepted directly to the supreme court. If he appeals to the en banc panel first, then the trial can go ahead while that appeal plays out, so it can’t be used as a delay tactic. Only the Supreme Court can delay it further now.

I assume that certain elements on the Supreme Court will attempt to delay it (Thomas, Alito, and probably Gorsuch, I’m looking at you). How much can they realistically delay the trial?

They could potentially accept an appeal and wait to hear it until next Fall and then not rule on it until after the election, if they’re so inclined, unfortunately. That would mean if Trump was elected he could try and nullify it by self pardoning or ordering his attorney general to drop the charges (not supposed to do that, but it hasn’t stopped Trump from trying to directly order around his attorney general before).

The supreme court could choose to hear it quicker, or they could just deny the appeal outright without hearing the case. Though all it takes is four justices want to hear it for the appeal to be accepted.

First of all nobody should accept a self-pardon as legitimate.

But beyond that, the 14A says how someone can regain their eligibility to hold office, and a pardon isn’t listed as an option. If anything, accepting a pardon would cement his ineligibility because it’s an admission of guilt.