Defense lawyers argued that, while Trump is not yet president, presidential immunity equally applies during the transition process and added that their appeal of the case would "take a year or more" and possibly reach the Supreme Court, dragging the case well past Inauguration Day. ????? ???????  

"The People deeply respect the Office of the President, are mindful of the demands and obligations of the presidency, and acknowledge that Defendant's inauguration will raise unprecedented legal questions. We also deeply respect the fundamental role of the jury in our constitutional system," prosecutors wrote. ????????????  

The district attorney's office instead suggested deferring all remaining proceedings in the case, including the Nov. 26 sentencing, until after Trump leaves the White House in 2029. ?????  

Prosecutors pushed back on that claim, arguing that presidential immunity would not apply to a defendant who had already been convicted for conduct that is entirely private. ????? ???????  

"To require President Trump to address further criminal proceedings at this point would not only violate the federal Constitution, but also disrupt the Presidential transition process," wrote defense lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, both of whom Trump nominated last week to top DOJ posts in his new administration. ????????????