Appeals court refuses last-minute bid to halt Donald Trump's hush money trial

NEW DELHI: A New York appeals court judge on Friday dismissed Donald Trump's attempt to halt his hush money criminal trial over defense complaints that jury selection was unfairly rushed, reported AP.
Justice Marsha Michael quickly made the decision following a short hearing. This decision came hours after the jury selection process concluded in Trump's criminal trial, which is currently taking place roughly two miles south.
The ruling is set to proceed with opening arguments starting on Monday before prosecutors begin laying out their case alleging a scheme to cover up negative stories Trump feared would hurt his 2016 presidential campaign.
A jury comprising 12 individuals and six alternates was seated for the trial setting the stage for opening statements next week.
The completion of the jury selection process marks the first criminal trial of a former US president, with allegations of Trump falsifying business records to suppress stories about his personal life during the 2016 election. The jury features a diverse group, including a sales professional, a software engineer, an English teacher, and multiple lawyers.
The jury selection process initially progressed swiftly, with seven jurors selected by Tuesday. However, two jurors were dismissed on Thursday, one citing concerns about impartiality and the other facing questions about past disclosures on whether he had provided accurate answers.
This hush money case is the first of Trump's four indictments to proceed to trial, centering around a $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels by Michael Cohen, Trump's former lawyer and personal fixer to prevent her allegations of a sexual encounter with Trump from going public in 2016.
Facing 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, Trump could potentially receive up to four years in prison if found guilty, though it's uncertain whether the judge would opt for imprisonment. Trump would likely appeal any conviction.
(With inputs from agencies)