Part 12/14:
The unfolding legal battles suggest a pivotal moment in American constitutional law. The potential overturning of Humphrey’s Executor and reforms to the pardon process could reshape how future presidents exercise power and respond to judicial activism. If the Supreme Court affirms broad presidential authority, then executive actions on immigration, military deployment, and pardons may stand immune to judicial second-guessing.
Additionally, the strategic use of pardons—especially if they are challenged on procedural grounds like auto pen signatures—could be a tool for presidents to protect administration officials from prosecution or accountability, provided such pardons are deemed legally valid.