Trump Faces Last Major Legal Decision Before Taking Office

Upon entering the White House, Trump would receive constitutional protections that would likely foreclose the possibility of any continued criminal proceedings.

President-elect Donald Trump speaks to members of the media during a press conference at the Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Fla., on Jan. 7, 2025. Scott Olson/Getty Images

President-elect Donald Trump is expected to undergo sentencing in his criminal business records case just 10 days before his inauguration, marking a milestone in the lengthy legal battles that have dogged him since leaving office in 2021.

New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan has already indicated he won’t impose any term of prison or any other meaningful punishment.