The New York judge overseeing President-elect Donald Trump’s hush money case has scheduled sentencing for January 10, just 10 days before his inauguration. Judge Juan Merchan indicated he is unlikely to impose jail time. Trump, who became the first former U.S. president convicted of a crime, can choose to appear in person or virtually for the sentencing.

In an 18-page ruling, Merchan upheld Trump’s conviction by a New York jury, dismissing various motions from Trump’s legal team to overturn the verdict. Instead of incarceration, the judge is leaning toward an unconditional discharge, meaning Trump would face no conditions following the sentencing. However, the decision would see him entering the White House as a convicted felon.

Although Trump faced a potential four-year prison term, legal experts had long doubted that the judge would impose jail time. Merchan emphasized that incarceration was not a likely outcome, a view also shared by prosecutors, who deemed a jail sentence impractical.

Following the decision, Trump criticized the ruling on his platform, Truth Social, calling it a “Rigged Charade” and labeling Merchan a “radical partisan.” He claimed the decision was unconstitutional and threatened the presidency’s future.

Trump’s conviction in May involved 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election. The payment was allegedly intended to silence claims of a 2006 sexual encounter.

Trump’s attorneys had sought dismissal of the case on various grounds, including an argument that former presidents are immune from prosecution for acts committed while in office. Merchan rejected this claim but acknowledged that Trump would regain immunity once sworn in as president. As a result, the judge deemed it necessary to impose sentencing before Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025.