Justice Juan M. Merchan, who oversaw Donald J. Trump’s trial and conviction, is now facing a challenging decision during the intense presidential election period.
The Manhattan criminal case involving Donald J. Trump is under scrutiny as the judge, Justice Juan M. Merchan, is set to make a decision on whether to delay the sentencing until after Election Day. Trump’s lawyers have requested the postponement of the sentencing, currently scheduled for September 18th, as he faces the possibility of up to four years in prison for his felony charges. The judge, Justice Merchan, who oversaw Trump’s trial earlier this year, is expected to deliver a sentence or possibly probation.
The request for a delay in sentencing presents a challenge for Justice Merchan, who has been resistant to Trump’s attempts to stall the legal proceedings. Proceeding with the sentencing before the election could lead to accusations of interference in the election by Trump. On the other hand, postponing the sentencing may raise concerns about prioritizing Trump’s political interests over the rule of law.
Trump’s legal team is seeking more time to challenge his conviction on charges related to falsifying records to conceal a hush-money payment to a porn star during the 2016 campaign. They argue that it is inappropriate for Trump to face sentencing so close to the November 5th election, where he is expected to compete against Vice President Kamala Harris for the presidency.
Justice Merchan has already rescheduled the sentencing once, moving it from its original date of July 11th. This delay was to allow time for consideration of Trump’s efforts to overturn his conviction, which relies on a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision granting him immunity for official acts as president. Justice Merchan is expected to rule on the immunity issue on September 16th, just two days before the sentencing, leaving little room for appeal if the conviction is upheld.
Source: The NY Times
