so he could no longer assert privilege. I can't imagine any reason for SCOTUS to continue sitting on Trump's tax returns.

for oral arguments, which must be filed in March. The article noted that this could drag the case out a year.

The article also noted that the SCOTUS is averse to being put in the position of having to “take sides” in partisan matters. Perhaps this engineered delay is meant to let the partisan tempers at the heart of Vance’s investigation to cool?

A final factor, not noted in the article, was the impact of the impeachment. The article noted that part of the delay was attributed to waiting for the election, Electoral College certification and inauguration to play out. Just tack the impeachment on to the list, and you’ve got the explanation for the delay.  If that’s the case though, the Justices have one last thing to look at. Whether the lack of a conviction has any bearing on the Presidential privilege that Trump’s defense team was claiming.