The trial of Donald Trump on charges of plotting to overturn the 2020 presidential election result has been set for 4 March 2024.
The date means Trump‘s trial could start almost eight months before the 2024 US presidential election.
The former president is currently hot favourite to win the Republican nomination to take on President Joe Biden.
The decision from US district judge Tanya Chutkan denied a defence request to postpone the trial until April 2026, around a year and a half after the 2024 election, but also sets it later than the January date proposed by special counsel Jack Smith’s team.
Judge Chutkan said: “The public has a right to a prompt and efficient resolution of this matter.”
Trump, a Republican, was charged earlier this month in a four-count indictment with scheming to undo his loss to Democrat Mr Biden in the 2020 election.
Mr Smith’s team has filed a separate federal lawsuit against Trump, alleging his unlawful possession of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago, his Palm Beach, Florida property, along with his refusal to relinquish them. This case is scheduled for trial on 20 May next year.
Additionally, Trump is facing state cases in both New York and Georgia.
In Manhattan, he is facing charges from prosecutors for manipulating business records in relation to a payment intended to conceal an affair with an adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
Meanwhile, in Fulton County, Georgia, Trump and 18 co-defendants have been indicted on allegations of participating in a racketeering scheme aimed at overturning the state’s 2020 election results.
The 77-year-old had his mugshot taken on Thursday – a historic first for a former US president – and was booked in as inmate P01135809 as he was presented with 13 charges at Fulton County jail.
Trump also posted on X, formerly Twitter, for the first time since 2021 – sharing his own mugshot. It was the first time Trump has used the social media platform since owner Elon Musk lifted his ban.
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Donald Trump booked on 13 charges
Trump accused his political opponents of “election interference”, with the charges coming as he campaigns to return to the White House.
“What has taken place here is a travesty of justice. We did nothing wrong,” he said.
“I did nothing wrong and everybody knows that. I’ve never had such support.”
Mr Trump has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
He wrote on social media last week that he was being prosecuted over what he described as a “perfect phone call” when he asked the Republican secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, to help “find 11,780 votes” for him to overturn his loss in Georgia.
Despite the charges, Trump remains the frontrunner to be the Republican Party’s candidate for the 2024 presidential election.
On Wednesday night he skipped a televised debate between eight of his party rivals and instead took part in an online interview in which he questioned whether Mr Biden would be physically capable of running in the campaign.