President-elect Donald Trump’s sentencing hearing Friday in his business records falsification case was one for the history books. It ended not with a bang, but a whimper.

Trump knew in advance of the hearing that Judge Juan Merchan was not going to impose any penalty at all. It was this factor that influenced five justices of the Supreme Court to allow the sentencing to proceed. In its brief order, the court noted that “the alleged evidentiary violations ... can be addressed in the ordinary course on appeal.”

It is amazing that four justices wanted to stay the sentencing until some future time after Trump is sworn in. Had a majority of the justices done so, it would have damaged the credibility of the Supreme Court and the rule of law beyond recognition.

When a defendant is sentenced, he is entitled to address the court, stating why the judge should go easy on him. If he plans to appeal, he may not want to admit his guilt for fear of influencing the appellate court. But he will try to avoid the severest sentence by stating mitigating factors, usually expressing some remorse over what he has done.

Not so with Trump. He had characterized the entire proceeding as “corrupt,” “rigged,” a “witch hunt” and a “sham,” over and over again.

Trump’s offenses were particularly aggravated, and the evidence was overwhelming. He repeatedly expressed disdain for the tribunal and the rule of law. He trashed Judge Merchan and his family, individual prosecutors and their families, the........

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