With debates, rallies, and swing state polls taking center stage, Labor Day often marks the start of the last run-up to Election Day.
It’s easy to forget about the legal problems that former President Donald Trump is currently facing in between an attempted assassination, the resignation of President Joe Biden, and the historic nomination of Vice President Harris. But the headlines around those courtroom fights will soon change again.
Let’s start with a quick glance at former President Trump’s legal calendar in September.
A status hearing in Trump’s Jan. 6 case is scheduled for this Thursday in Washington.
The case concerning Trump’s purported involvement on January 6th has been largely suspended since the Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of presidents’ immunity.
A new trial date may be scheduled during Thursday’s meeting, which will also address unresolved issues such as whether charges may still be brought.
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In reaction to the immunity ruling, Jack Smith files a new indictment in Trump’s case on January 6.
The session will be covered by Ava-joye Burnett, legal affairs correspondent for Scripps News. Burnett stated, “That judge will now have the final say over how this matter may proceed. It will be their responsibility to determine what is and is not protected by presidential immunity.”
Should the lawsuit proceed and Trump is not victorious in this election, the previous president might find himself in a similar difficult legal situation the next year. But what happens if Trump prevails in November?
Burnett predicted that “if former President Trump truly wins, he would probably urge whoever he appoints at the DOJ to get rid of this lawsuit entirely.”
Let’s change the calendar to Sept. 16, when we anticipate the New York City court overseeing Trump’s felony convictions to rule whether those convictions may still stand in the light of that Supreme Court presidential immunity verdict.
Michael Scotto works as a legal analyst for Scripps News. He adds there could be another, more important ruling rendered before that one. Trump has requested once more that the lawsuit be transferred from New York state court to New York federal court by a federal judge.
“The argument is a much better case now than it was last year when he tried to remove it, since the Supreme Court has declared there is this form of protection,” said Scotto.
When Trump is supposed to be sentenced on September 18, everyone will be watching if he is denied this appeal and Judge Juan Merchan rules that the conviction is upheld.
Any felony has a maximum sentence of one and a half to four years. Nothing is a minimum. There isn’t a minimal requirement,” stated Scotto.
Time will tell if the former president’s court appearances, which have in the past galvanized his supporters, will occur again so close to Election Day.
