NRPLUS MEMBER ARTICLE N ow that it has received the articles of impeachment and designated Patrick Leahy as the presiding judge, the Senate will have to officially decide whether it has the jurisdiction to try Donald Trump. A court — even a court of impeachment — first must ask if it has the constitutional authority to hear a case. Only after it has found jurisdiction can a court turn to the merits of the claim. When Congress’s power over ex-officials is so doubtful, the Senate’s most prudent course would be to dismiss the case — regardless of whether it believes Trump committed “incitement of …