On April 19th the Faculty of Law of Vilnius University hosted a lecture by David Schultz, Professor of Political Science and Law at Hamline University (USA), on “Democracy in the Courts: the Courts and the 2024 U.S. Presidential Elections”.
The lecture focused on the role of the courts in the US elections, given that one of the potential candidates is the subject of four criminal trials, and in the context of the ongoing court proceedings on ballot papers and voters’ rights. These processes are particularly relevant given that the winner of the elections will determine the development of democracy in the US and beyond.
Prof. Schultz began by teaching the participants the basics about the US presidential election process, which is very different from that of other countries: instead of the candidate with the majority of the electoral votes winning, the US election is determined by a multitude of other processes. One of the main ones is the Electoral College. According to Prof. Schultz, these processes complicate the US presidential election.
According to Professor Schultz, it is currently very difficult to predict who will win the 2024 US presidential election, although Donald Trump is facing a criminal conviction. Of course, some voters may change their minds about voting for Mr Trump if he is convicted, but will this prevent him from winning the election? We cannot yet say. Professor Schultz also told the lecture more about the crimes for which Mr Trump is on trial. “Studies show that up to 30% of potential Trump voters would change their minds if Trump were convicted,” stressed Prof Schultz. One of the most interesting constitutional debates on the legal impact of Trump’s conviction is the absence of a pardon in the US Constitution and the potential opportunity for the President-elect to pardon himself.
Mr Schultz discussed this and other complex legal debates with the students and experts in attendance. The lecture was followed by a discussion moderated by Associate Professor Dr. Donatas Murauskas, who organised this event, as the head of the The US Law Center.
