Judge Juan Merchan paused all deadlines in President-elect Donald Trump’s New York case — including the sentencing date scheduled for later this month.
Merchan granted a joint request by prosecutors and defense attorneys to pause the case until Nov. 19, pushing off his decision on Trump’s motion to toss the verdict based on presidential immunity, which he previously was slated to issue a ruling on Tuesday.
Merchan directed prosecutors to submit their view of “appropriate steps going forward” in a filing by next week. Prosecutors requested Merchan pause proceedings to allow them to evaluate the impact of Trump’s election victory.
BREAKING: Justice Merchan has granted a request from prosecutions/defense to pause deadlines — including Trump’s sentencing date — while they consider the effect of his election as president. https://t.co/LaeJlAyTDi pic.twitter.com/SAHVbo3HbG
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) November 12, 2024
“The People agree that these are unprecedented circumstances and that the arguments raised by defense counsel in correspondence to the People on Friday require careful consideration to ensure that any further steps in this proceeding appropriately balance the competing interests of (1) a jury verdict of guilt following trial that has the presumption of regularity; and (2) the Office of the President,” prosecutor Matthew Colangelo wrote in a Nov. 10 email to Merchan.
Trump’s defense attorneys joined the request, arguing dismissal of the case is required to “avoid unconstitutional impediments to President Trump’s ability to govern.”
“At the request of the Manhattan DA, Judge Merchan has now stayed all previously scheduled deadlines, including sentencing in this case,” Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a statement. “The American people have re-elected President Trump with an overwhelming mandate to Make America Great Again. It is now abundantly clear that Americans want an immediate end to the weaponization of our justice system, including this case, which should have never been filed, so we can, as President Trump said in his historic victory speech, unify our country and work together for the betterment of our nation.”
In Trump’s federal election interference case, the judge also granted special counsel Jack Smith’s request to pause pending deadlines.
Multiple reports indicate the Department of Justice (DOJ) is already considering how to wind down its cases against Trump as he gets ready to take office in January. DOJ policy prevents the criminal prosecution of sitting presidents.
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