The events underlying the criminal case against Donald Trump - hush money payments to suppress stories about extramarital affairs - took place nearly seven years ago.
But any potential trial could be more than a year away. That raises the possibility that the former U.S. president could face a jury in a Manhattan courtroom as he seeks a return to the White House - or even after the November 2024 election.
After Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 felony charges of falsifying business records on Tuesday, Judge Juan Merchan set the next court hearing for Dec. 4.
Prosecutors said they plan to request a trial date of January 2024, while Trump's legal team suggested a spring 2024 trial.
Trump could also challenge whether the statute of limitations - five years in this instance - should have run out. That deadline has been extended due to the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under New York law, the statute of limitations can also be extended if the defendant has been out of state, but Trump may argue that serving as U.S. president should not apply.
"This is a dream case for defense attorneys," former prosecutor David Shapiro said last week.
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