President-elect Donald Trump filed an emergency appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday, asking the justices to block his Friday sentencing in the New York hush money case.
Lawyers for Trump submitted the filing after New York appellate courts declined to intervene. The sentencing is currently scheduled for January 10, 2025, in a Manhattan courtroom.
Trump was convicted in May 2024 on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. Judge Juan Merchan has indicated he plans to impose an unconditional discharge, meaning no jail time, fines, or probation.
The emergency appeal asks the Supreme Court to consider whether a president-elect is immune from state criminal proceedings. Trump's legal team argues that allowing the sentencing to proceed would burden the presidency and disrupt the transition of power.
The Manhattan District Attorney's office, which brought the case, has opposed the delay, arguing that the proceedings should move forward as scheduled.
This marks the first time the Supreme Court has been asked to weigh in on the hush money case. The Court's decision could come as soon as Thursday, just hours before the sentencing is set to take place.
If the justices decline to intervene, Trump would become the first president in U.S. history to be sentenced after winning the presidency. If they grant the stay, the sentencing would be postponed indefinitely.