NY judge grants Trump’s request to pause court deadlines, sentencing, in a victory for president-elect
The Manhattan judge overseeing President-elect Donald Trump’s trial has made a significant decision to grant a stay on all deadlines associated with the felony conviction proceedings against Trump. This move allows Trump to avoid a potential maximum sentence of up to four years in prison, a ruling that has been closely watched by legal experts and the public.
Judge Juan Merchan, who is presiding over the case, agreed to the request for a stay on all deadlines, including the Nov. 26 sentencing date, in order to consider the implications of Trump’s election as president. Trump’s legal team had also filed a motion to vacate the charges against him.
Trump was convicted in May by a Manhattan jury on 34 counts of falsifying business records, related to payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels. This trial has been a high-profile case, garnering significant attention from the media and the public.
Earlier this year, Judge Merchan had already granted a four-month delay for the court proceedings, pushing any further steps until after the 2024 presidential election. He had set a self-imposed deadline of Nov. 12 to decide on the best course of action moving forward.
The Supreme Court’s ruling on July 1 stating that presidents should be granted a certain level of immunity in court convictions has also played a significant role in this case. The justices ruled in a 4-3 majority that presidents are entitled to absolute immunity from actions taken within the scope of their constitutional powers. This ruling has implications for Trump’s case and his claims of presidential immunity.
Even if Trump’s convictions were to be upheld, he has various avenues to appeal the case or have the charges dismissed before the Nov. 26 sentencing hearing. These options include moving the case from state to federal court, appealing the convictions, and using the Supreme Court immunity ruling as grounds for dismissal.
Legal analysts and former prosecutors have expressed skepticism about the likelihood of Trump facing prison time for these convictions. The charges, while felonies, may not be serious enough under New York law to warrant immediate detention. Trump would likely be granted bail pending appeal, if necessary.
Judge Merchan’s decision to grant a stay on the deadlines in this case comes at a crucial time, as it allows for further consideration of Trump’s immunity claims and the Supreme Court’s ruling on presidential immunity. The next steps in this case will be closely watched as Trump prepares to take office as president-elect.
