The judge in the criminal trial of former President Donald J. Trump said on Monday that the case would take longer than anticipated to wrap up, with closing arguments now not expected until next week.
“It was either have a long break now or have a long break then, and unfortunately the calendar is what it is,” said the judge, Juan M. Merchan, referring to the long weekend for Memorial Day.
The new schedule outlined by Justice Merchan meant that the jurors who would decide Mr. Trump’s innocence or guilt would not have the case in their hands until after the holiday. Next week will be the trial’s seventh.
After more than seven hours of sometimes bruising cross-examination over two days, Michael D. Cohen, former President Trump’s one-time lawyer and fixer, will return to the stand Monday to face final questions from the Trump defense team. Before Justice Merchan’s remarks on Monday, prosecutors were expected to rest their case as soon as Tuesday after Mr. Cohen steps down.
Court will be adjourned on Wednesday, the normal off day for the trial every week, but also on Friday and Monday, which is Memorial Day.
Mr. Cohen is the 19th — and most consequential — witness called by the Manhattan district attorney’s office in the first criminal trial of an American president. When the defense questioning concludes, prosecutors may re-interview Mr. Cohen.
After that, the defense has the opportunity to present its own case. On Thursday, Mr. Trump’s lawyers said that he had yet to decide whether he would testify, and it is unclear whether his lawyers might call other witnesses.
Closing arguments will follow the defense’s case. That’s when the lawyers summarize what jurors have spent weeks witnessing.
Though those arguments are typically similar to the opening statements that begin the trial, they tend to be even more forceful. Lawyers weave evidence and testimony to convince the jurors either that they have seen proof that a crime was committed or that they should acquit because there is reason for doubt. In New York state courts, defense lawyers offer their summations first, and prosecutors follow.
After closing arguments, the case goes to the jury, which has been on duty since April 22.
The judge will first read instructions that will help the jurors determine the verdict. This is an important moment for both sides, because the theory of the case is complicated: The 34 criminal counts have been charged as felonies, because prosecutors say that the former president falsified business records to conceal a second crime. They have argued to the jury that the second crime was a violation of New York’s election law.
Prosecutors do not actually have to prove to the jury beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Trump committed that election crime, and it is not clear how the judge will explain to jurors what they should consider. His explanation will be important in the outcome of this complex case.
After the jurors are instructed, they will deliberate, a process now likely to start after the Memorial Day weekend. A judge will typically allow deliberations to run for several days, if they must, and urge jurors to reach some kind of agreement. If they can’t, the judge would declare a mistrial — and prosecutors could bring the case again.
If the jury reaches a unanimous verdict, the jurors would return to the courtroom, in this case to announce whether the former president, Mr. Trump, is guilty or not.
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