Summary

The Supreme Court’s handling of a case involving Trump’s firing of Hampton Dellinger, head of the Office of Special Counsel, has been described as a “compromise.”

Dellinger sued, claiming unlawful termination. The court, facing a split between conservative and liberal justices, opted to “not decide,” holding the government’s appeal “in abeyance” until the temporary restraining order (TRO) expires.

This “nonruling” risks escalating executive vs. judicial tensions, as it provides no clear direction on presidential removal power.

While TROs remain an option, the court avoided directly challenging Trump’s claims, leading to potential future clashes.