As the trial of former President Donald Trump progresses, the focus now shifts to the potential appeals process that could unfold if he is found guilty. Legal experts anticipate that Trump's legal team would promptly file an appeal within 30 days of a conviction.
The appeal process would commence at New York's appellate division, where Trump's lawyers are likely to request a stay on any sentence, such as jail time, until the appeals process concludes. The decision to grant such a request would rest with an appellate judge.
One potential ground for appeal that has garnered attention is the argument that testimony from adult film star Stormy Daniels was prejudicial to the case. Trump's defense team contended that Daniels' testimony, detailing an alleged sexual encounter with the former president, was irrelevant to the charges at hand. Despite calls for a mistrial during Daniels' testimony, Judge Juan Marchand denied the requests.
Additionally, Trump's lawyers may seek an appeal based on the unique legal strategy employed by prosecutors in this case. Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying business records, typically a misdemeanor under New York law. However, prosecutors assert that these records concealed a separate offense - the violation of state election laws through unlawful means.
The appeals process is expected to be protracted, potentially extending beyond the upcoming November election. Recently, the New York Appellate Division upheld Judge Juan Merchant's decision not to recuse himself from the case, adding another layer of complexity to the proceedings.
Given the intricacies of the legal arguments and the potential implications of the appeals process, observers are keenly watching the developments in this high-profile trial.
