My understanding is that the Republican Party reorganizes every four years at their convention. The first order of business is to adopt the rules that the Party will follow during the next four years. I don’t know of anything that would preclude them from adopting a new Rule that unbounds the delegates.
Of course, if they did that they would be writing the obituary of the Party, but the convention would have the power to do this. There will probably be some drama over this issue, but I expect that the rule will not change and therefore the delegates must vote as instructed for the first ballot.
“Of course, if they did that they would be writing the obituary of the Party, but the convention would have the power to do this. There will probably be some drama over this issue, but I expect that the rule will not change and therefore the delegates must vote as instructed for the first ballot.”
The rules were set at the 2012 convention for the following 4 years. EVERYONE knew those rules during the primary season and, as of right this second, those rules are STILL in effect. For the convention to change them next week would be to change the rules in the middle of the game - which the court just said is impermissible.
THIS convention will set the rules for the next one, as it has always been. Note that this makes sense, as there are pretty good odds that someone nominated will be the POTUS, and he/his people should have a big say in how the next convention is run.