Supreme Court requests documents in Trump financial case to address 'political question doctrine'

The Supreme Court requested supplemental documents in a case involving President Trump's private financial records.

On Monday, the high court ordered the parties involved in Trump v. Mazars USA, LLP, a case which deals with subpoenas issued by the House Oversight Committee for Trump's financial records, to file "supplemental letter briefs" to ascertain whether or not the political question doctrine applies.

"The parties and the Solicitor General are directed to file supplemental letter briefs addressing whether the political question doctrine or related justiciability principles bear on the Court’s adjudication of these cases," the court order reads.

The political question doctrine, also referred to as the justiciability doctrine, is the belief that federal courts, understood as an apolitical branch, should not settle inherently political questions presented.

In 1962, the Supreme Court ruled in Baker v. Carr to expand the "political" questions it could adjudicate in regard to legislative apportionment. However, the high court upheld lower court decisions in the 1993 Nixon v. United States case regarding rules of impeachment.

According to the order, the legal briefs to be submitted by the parties involved are not to exceed 15 pages and must be filed before Friday, May 8, during the period in which the Supreme Court will also hear oral arguments.