Grounds for Appeal

How will the former president’s conviction affect his dead-heat reelection?

Donald Trump’s trial for falsifying business records may have ended in his conviction on 34 felony charges, but he has more chances to make his case — both to New York appellate courts, and to the highest court of all, the voters. What’s next in his legal battles? What’s more likely — that he ends up in a prison cell, or in the Oval Office? With his supporters already circling the wagons around him and his enemies celebrating with glee, how will the New York convictions and the other cases pending against him impact what is building up to be one of the most bizarre elections in US history?

Now that Trump has been convicted, what’s the next step in the process, and when can we expect new developments?

Judge Juan Merchan, who presided over the New York “hush-money” trial, set July 11 as the sentencing date — just four days before the Republican national convention in Milwaukee. At least he didn’t make a date during the week of the convention, but until then, Trump will be distracted and under pressure.

We will have more clues as to Trump’s whereabouts in the second week of July after his pre-sentencing hearing, which begins in the second week of June.

Defense attorneys have until Thursday, June 13, to file their sentencing motion explaining why their client deserves only a slap on the wrist and not a stiff prison term. The prosecution has until June 27 to inform the court if it plans to seek a prison term. Sometime before the sentencing, a court probation officer, social worker, or psychologist will interview Trump, and perhaps family members and friends, to help the court develop a recommendation for his sentence. So we should know by the end of June what each side is seeking.

How likely is Trump to get that slap on the wrist? Or will he be the first former president to be thrown in the slammer?

The consensus in the legal community is that Judge Merchan will suffice with probation, a fine, and/or community service.