No. 19-635October Term 2019Decided Jul 9, 2020
Trump v. Vance
The key issue is whether a sitting President can block a state criminal subpoena for personal records held by a third party.
Case status
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Jul 9, 2020
- What it's about
This case was about whether a New York grand jury could subpoena President Trump’s personal financial records from his accounting firm while he was in office. The Supreme Court held that the President is not absolutely immune from this kind of state criminal subpoena and that prosecutors do not have to meet a special heightened standard just because the subpoena involves a sitting President.
Question presented
Whether this subpoena violates Article II and the Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution.
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit / Decision released Jul 9, 2020
- Area
Decided Supreme Court case
Briefing
What it's about
This case asks whether a New York grand jury could subpoena President Trump's personal financial records from his accounting firm while he was in office. The question is whether that subpoena violates Article II and the Supremacy Clause.
Vote
The case is still pending, and no oral argument is scheduled yet. The dispute centers on whether a state grand jury subpoena for the President's personal records can go forward while he is in office.
Impact
The answer could shape how far state prosecutors can go when investigating a sitting President. For example, it affects whether a local district attorney can seek records from a President's accountant during a criminal inquiry.
What's next
Watch for oral argument to be scheduled or for another move on the Court's calendar. No decision window is available yet.
What is the main fight in Trump v. Vance?
The fight is over a New York grand jury subpoena for President Trump's personal financial records kept by his accounting firm. The Court is being asked whether the subpoena is unconstitutional.
Why could this case matter beyond President Trump?
It could define how state prosecutors investigate any sitting President. That matters when records are held by outside firms, like accountants or banks.
What should people watch for next in this case?
The next big step is whether the Supreme Court schedules oral argument or takes another procedural action. There is no set decision timeline yet.
Decision
What the Court decided
The key issue is whether a sitting President can block a state criminal subpoena for personal records held by a third party.
Impact
The answer could shape how far state prosecutors can go when investigating a sitting President. For example, it affects whether a local district attorney can seek records from a President's accountant during a criminal inquiry.
Not official Court text.
Opinion documents
Timing
Decided July 9, 2020
The Court released its decision on July 9, 2020 without hearing oral argument.
Related cases




Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary materials plus reporting.
- Note
- Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Jul 2, 2026
- Method
- Methodology
Primary materials10
Supreme Court docket 19-635
docket | Jul 25, 2026
Primary case document
Supreme Court document | Jul 25, 2026
CourtListener docket record
docket | Jul 25, 2026
Questions Presented
brief | May 24, 2026
opinion
opinion | Jul 9, 2020
Petition
brief | Nov 14, 2019
SupremeCourt.gov
official | Jul 2, 2026
SupremeCourt.gov
official | Jul 2, 2026
SupremeCourt.gov
official | Jul 2, 2026
SupremeCourt.gov
official | Jul 2, 2026