Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/19pdf/19-635_o7jq.pdf
Page Number: 39

Cite as:  591 U. S. ____ (2020) 

7 

THOMAS, J., dissenting 

Although  Burr  involved  a  federal  subpoena,  the  same
principle  applies  to  a  state  subpoena.    The  ability  of  the 
President to discharge his duties until his term expires or 
he is removed from office by the Senate is “integral to the 
structure of the Constitution.”  Franchise Tax Bd. of Cal. v. 
Hyatt, 587 U. S. ___, ___ (2019) (slip op., at 15).  The Con-
stitution is the “supreme Law of the Land,” Art. VI, cl. 2, so
a state court can no more enforce a subpoena when national 
concerns demand the President’s entire time than a federal 
court can.  Accordingly, a federal court may provide injunc-
tive  and  declaratory  relief  to  stay  enforcement  of  a  state 
subpoena when the President meets the Burr standard. 

B 
The  Burr  standard  places  the  burden  on  the  President 
but  also  requires  courts  to  take  pains  to  respect  the  de-
mands on the President’s time.  The Constitution vests the 
President with extensive powers  and responsibilities, and 
courts are poorly situated to conduct a searching review of
the President’s assertion that he is unable to comply. 

1 
The  President  has  vast  responsibilities  both  abroad
and at home.  The Founders gave the President “primary
responsibility—along with the necessary power—to protect 
the national security and to conduct the Nation’s foreign re-
lations.”  Hamdi  v.  Rumsfeld,  542  U. S.  507,  580  (2004) 
(THOMAS, J., dissenting).  The Constitution “expressly iden-
tifies certain foreign affairs powers and vests them” in his 
office.  Zivotofsky v. Kerry, 576 U. S. 1, 32 (2015) (THOMAS, 
J., concurring in judgment in part and dissenting in part). 
—————— 
and President Jefferson, who were often at odds, could agree on.  Presi-
dent Jefferson’s concern was that the Executive would lose his independ-
ence if courts could “withdraw him entirely from his constitutional du-
ties.”  10 Works of Thomas Jefferson 404, n. (P. Ford ed. 1905).  Relief 
from enforcement when those duties preclude the President’s compliance
addresses these concerns.