A historic case, one that could affect both Donald Trump’s legal and political fates and define the scope of presidential power, lands before the nine justices of the US Supreme Court on Thursday.

Lawyers for Mr Trump and Special Counsel Jack Smith will square off in a hearing on whether former presidents have immunity from criminal prosecution for actions they take while in office.

Mr Smith charged the former president last year with allegedly attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 election. But Mr Trump said he could not be indicted under the US Constitution. The trial has been on hold while the dispute made its way up to the top court in the country.

The case is already historic: Mr Trump is the first former president to have been charged with federal crimes.

And the Supreme Court decision, which may not come until June, will be also.

If the court rules Mr Trump can be prosecuted, then the trial will move forward, but will likely restart in late summer at the earliest, in the heart of the presidential election season. If it decides that he does have immunity, Mr Trump may see other criminal cases against him thrown out.

Mr Smith had pressed the court to make a decision in December, but it declined.

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