In the latest twist in Donald Trump's ongoing legal battles, the former president turned to the Supreme Court for help. On January 8, 2025, Trump asked the justices to intervene in his New York hush money case, seeking to halt the criminal sentencing scheduled for January 10. Trump's lawyers argued that forcing him to prepare for sentencing while preparing to take office as President of the United States imposed an "intolerable, unconstitutional burden" on him.
Trump was found guilty in May of 34 counts of falsifying business records to hide reimbursements made to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election. Judge Juan Merchan indicated that he did not intend to sentence Trump to jail time, instead planning to give him an "unconditional discharge," which would mean no serious punishment but the conviction would remain on his record.
In his appeal to the Supreme Court, Trump cited the justices' decision in *Trump v. United States*, arguing that the criminal proceedings in state court should be put on hold while his claims of presidential immunity are addressed. Trump also claimed that prosecutors improperly relied on evidence of his official acts to obtain his convictions, which he argued conflicted with the court's decision in *Trump v. United States*.
However, New York prosecutors quickly countered Trump's request. In a 38-page filing on January 9, they urged the Supreme Court to allow Trump's sentencing to proceed as scheduled. The prosecutors emphasized that Trump's conviction rests on conduct for which he is not entitled to immunity and that he can attend the hearing by video to minimize any burden. They also pointed out that Trump can appeal after he is sentenced, making the Supreme Court's intervention unnecessary at this stage.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who handles emergency appeals from New York, directed the prosecutors to respond to Trump's request by January 9. The Supreme Court could act on Trump's request at any time, but as of now, the outcome remains uncertain. Trump's legal team also sought emergency relief from the New York Court of Appeals, the state's highest court, but a judge turned him down on January 9.
The drama surrounding Trump's legal battles continues to unfold, with the nation watching closely to see how the Supreme Court will respond to his latest appeal.
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
