A New York appeals court on Monday denied President Trump's request to postpone his trial in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's case against him.
Trump had requested the court to delay his trial scheduled for April 15 while seeking a change of venue in the case. However, the court denied this request, a week before jury selection is slated to begin.
Justice Lizbeth González of the state’s mid-level appeals court rendered her decision following an emergency hearing where Trump's legal team requested a postponement of the trial indefinitely while they pursued a change of venue. Trump sought an emergency stay, a legal injunction to halt the trial's commencement as scheduled.
Trump's lawyer, Emil Bove, contended that the presumptive Republican nominee is susceptible to “significant bias” as a defendant in predominantly Democratic Manhattan. Bove supported his argument by referencing defense surveys and a scrutiny of media portrayal, asserting that the upcoming jury selection, slated to commence the following Monday, would be incapable of proceeding impartially.
In a different appellate issue, Trump's legal team is contesting a gag order imposed on him in the case, which Merchan recently extended to forbid Trump from discussing the judge's family. The appeals court indicated it would address this issue at a later time.
Documentation pertaining to Trump's appeals was sealed and not accessible to the public.
