Trump seeks New York criminal trial delay until SCOTUS weighs in on immunity
Published Date: 3/11/2024
Source: axios.com

Former President Trump's legal team on Monday asked the judge overseeing his New York hush money case to postpone the trial until after the Supreme Court weighs in whether he has immunity.

Why it matters: The New York trial is poised to be the first of Trump's four criminal cases to go to trial — and possibly the only one to see a decision before the 2024 presidential election.


Driving the news: "[Trump] respectfully submits that an adjournment of the trial is appropriate to await further guidance from the Supreme Court, which should facilitate the appropriate application of the presidential immunity doctrine in this case to the evidence the People intend to offer at trial," reads the motion to New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan.

The big picture: Trump, charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first degree, has repeatedly tried to delay his numerous legal troubles until after the 2024 election.

  • The Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments in late April over whether Trump is immune from prosecution for any crimes he committed while president, which has been a central argument for the former president's legal team across his cases.

What to watch: If the New York judge agrees with Trump's long-shot request, his trial would be delayed beyond its current start date of March 25.

  • Prosecutors allege that Trump conducted a "catch and kill" scheme, which included a $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.

Go deeper: Trump's one loss this week: His 2024 courtroom strategy