A New York judge ruled on Tuesday that Donald Trump’s sentencing for his business fraud conviction will be postponed until September, following a Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity issued on Monday. This delay means that the former president is likely to avoid facing any concrete punishment for his felony conviction over the summer. Meanwhile, Trump’s political prospects have been buoyed by President Joe Biden’s recent debate performance, which has left Democrats questioning whether to consider replacing Biden as their nominee.

Previously scheduled for July 11, Trump’s sentencing date has been pushed to September 18, “if such is still necessary,” according to Judge Juan Merchan. This delay underscores the significant implications of the Supreme Court’s recent ruling, which affirmed that presidents enjoy absolute immunity for their core presidential duties.

Trump was convicted in May on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payments. His legal team has since filed challenges to the conviction following the Supreme Court’s ruling, arguing that evidence pertaining to Trump’s official acts should not have been admissible during the trial. This argument, they contend, should invalidate the jury’s guilty verdict.

The Supreme Court’s decision has also cast doubt on other pending legal actions against Trump, including charges related to election subversion, handling classified documents, and alleged interference in Georgia’s election process. The ruling effectively complicates the timeline for any trials before the upcoming November election.

In response to these developments, Trump’s attorneys have emphasized the importance of presidential immunity from prosecution for actions considered part of the president’s official duties. They assert that evidence presented during Trump’s trial, such as communications from his time in office and actions taken as president, should not have influenced the jury’s verdict.

The legal maneuvering and implications of these decisions mark a critical juncture in Trump’s legal battles and political future as the legal process unfolds in the coming months.