Roberts will be swearing in the "Jurors" - what will he do with the ones who spurn impartiality?

[Dennis Donovan]

Link to tweet

Laurence Tribe ✔ @tribelaw

When the Chief Justice administers the oath of impartiality to a Senator who has said he will not be impartial, he will need to decide what his own oath demands — and whether he has jurisdiction to rule on a motion to recuse that Senator for cause.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/31/us/john-roberts-trump-impeachment.amp.html …
“We should celebrate our strong and independent judiciary, a key source of national unity and stability,” Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. wrote.
Impeachment Trial Looming, Chief Justice Reflects on Judicial Independence
Chief Justice John Roberts’s year-end report on the judiciary praised civics education, but it was not hard to detect a timely subtext that appeared to be addressed to President Trump.

8:48 AM - Jan 1, 2020

[walkingman]

1. Nothing.

[guillaumeb]

2. Meaning the entire GOP group of Senators.

But at that moment, if it arrives, every one of these GOP liars will lie and claim that they can and will be impartial.

[JohnnyRingo]

3. K&R

Indeed, Roberts may write his legacy at this trial, something I believe he's taking seriously as time goes on.

[Dennis Donovan]

5. I've read he's really "legacy-conscious" - he has a chance to be a future American Hero

...simply by presiding over a fair trial in the Senate.

...unless Trumpism triumphs, then they get to write the history books.

[wryter2000]

6. I don't know how much control he has over the trial

I have a feeling he'll try to run an honest trial, but he can't change Republican votes.

[kentuck]

4. He could ask for a show of hands...

For how many feel they cannot be an impartial juror?

They should recuse themselves from the jury.

[SeattleVet]

7. They will all take the oath, and lie their asses off about being impartial.

As usual.

And nothing will happen.

As usual.

[Iggo]

8. None will, vocally.

[Mc Mike]

9. Those ones, he'll ask "Really? Are you sure?" after they swear the initial oath.

[FBaggins]

10. Not a blessed thing... and Tribe knows it

"The Senate, unlike any petit (or trial) jury, is legally free to engage in politics in arriving at its verdict."

It's politically useful to point out that McConnell admits that he is in no sense impartial... but actually spinning that he should be forced to recuse himself? Tribe knows that's nonsense... and that no "jurisdiction" exists for such a move.

[Dennis Donovan]

11. Prof Tribe's angle is from Roberts

What will *Roberts* do? He's been a shitheel on a lot, but actually surprised us with the ACA ruling. He's a wildcard, at this point.