The case involves hush money paid to a porn star, with two conservative justices joining the three liberal members in a 5-4 decision.
The court turned down Trump s last-minute bid to prevent his sentencing, scheduled for Friday in New York state court in Manhattan 10 days before his inauguration for his second term as president. Chief Justice John Roberts and fellow conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the court s three liberal justices - Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson - in forming a majority to deny Trump s request.
The court s brief, unsigned order gave two reasons for the decision.
"First, the alleged evidentiary violations at president-elect Trump s state-court trial can be addressed in the ordinary course on appeal. Second, the burden that sentencing will impose on the president-elect s responsibilities is relatively insubstantial in light of the trial court s stated intent to impose a sentence of unconditional discharge after a brief virtual hearing," the order stated.
The trial judge, Justice Juan Merchan, said last week he was not inclined to sentence the Republican president-elect to prison and would likely grant him unconditional discharge. This would place a guilty judgment on Trump s record, but would not impose custody, a fine or probation. Merchan is set to sentence Trump.
Four conservative justices - Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh - dissented from the decision, noting they would have granted Trump s request. They did not provide their reasoning.
Trump said in remarks at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida after the Supreme Court s order: "I read it, and I thought was a fair decision, actually."
Trump added on his social media platform: "For the sake and sanctity of the Presidency, I will be appealing this case, and am confident that JUSTICE WILL PREVAIL."
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg s office made a filing at the Supreme Court on Thursday morning, opposing Trump s bid for a stay.
Trump in a Supreme Court filing made public on Wednesday had asked for proceedings in the case to stop as he seeks an appeal following the Supreme Court s immunity ruling.
"This appeal will ultimately result in the dismissal of the District Attorney s politically motivated prosecution that was flawed from the very beginning," Trump s lawyer John Sauer wrote in the filing.
Trump was found guilty by a jury last May of 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels in exchange for her silence shortly before the 2016 U.S. election about a sexual encounter she has said she had with Trump a decade earlier, which he has denied. Prosecutors have said the payment was designed to help Trump s chances in the 2016 election, when he defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton.
Trump s lawyers contend that prosecutors improperly admitted evidence of Trump s official acts during the trial. They also argue that, as president-elect, Trump is immune from prosecution during the period between his November election victory and his inauguration.
