November 6, 2024

Election years are busy enough, but now former President Donald Trump may have to appear in court again and again while campaigning for the presidency. 

With Monday’s indictment out of Fulton County, Georgia – related to Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election in that state – the ex-president’s 2024 calendar is filling up. 

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis said she’d like to see Trump’s trial kick off in the next six months, meaning it could take place smack dab in the middle of presidential primary season. 

Additionally, one of Trump’s trial dates – for the original E. Jean Carroll defamation lawsuit – is set to take place on January 15, 2024, the exact same day as the Iowa caucuses. 

Here are key dates to look out for as Trump runs for president and tries to stay out of jail:

Former President Donald Trump is photographed in court for his first arraignment of this year – on charges related to hush-money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election 

August 23, 2023: First Republican primary debate

For weeks, Trump has teased that he may skip the first debate, which is being held next Wednesday in Milwaukee and hosted by Fox News Channel. 

That being said, he’s also floated that he may headline some counter-programming instead. 

Trump has said he’s made his decision, but won’t announce it until next week. 

August 25, 2023: Georgia deadline for Trump to turn himself in

Willis gave Trump and the other 18 people indicted in Fulton County, Georgia 10 days to turn themselves in or be arrested.  

August 28, 2023: Hearing for federal 2020 election and January 6 case 

Trump’s lawyers will return to federal court in Washington, D.C. to stand before U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is expected to use the hearing to determine a trial date. 

Trump’s legal team has pushed for the trial to take place after the 2024 election, while prosecutors want a ‘speedy trial.’ 

Then candidate Donald Trump (center) appears at a GOP primary debate in February 2016. There are debates scheduled in September and October that Trump will easily qualify for - but the ex-president has yet to announce if he'll appear at the first debate next week in Milwaukee

Then candidate Donald Trump (center) appears at a GOP primary debate in February 2016. There are debates scheduled in September and October that Trump will easily qualify for – but the ex-president has yet to announce if he’ll appear at the first debate next week in Milwaukee

September 27, 2023: Second Republican primary debate 

The 2024 Republican hopefuls are expected to meet onstage for the second debate of the primary cycle. It’s scheduled to take place at the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California.

October 2, 2023: Trial date for Trump Organization civil fraud suit

The $250 million civil lawsuit filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James goes to trial. In September, James sued Trump, his business and his eldest three children for fraud. 

She said the ex-president ‘wildly exaggerated his net worth by billions of dollars,’ while manipulating property valuations to get tax breaks and better terms on loans and insurance policies. 

January 2, 2024: Proposed start of federal 2020 election and January 6 trial 

Special Counsel Jack Smith has proposed this as the start date for the federal trial on the charges related to Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election and his role in January 6. 

The Iowa caucuses are set to take place on January 15, 2024. They're the first contest of the 2024 primary cycle. Trump (left) is photographed campaigning in Iowa in 2016 alongside Sen. Joni Ernst (center) and now former Rep. Steve King (right)

The Iowa caucuses are set to take place on January 15, 2024. They’re the first contest of the 2024 primary cycle. Trump (left) is photographed campaigning in Iowa in 2016 alongside Sen. Joni Ernst (center) and now former Rep. Steve King (right) 

January 15, 2024: The Iowa caucuses 

The 2024 election’s official kick-off date. The Iowa caucuses are the official start of Republican primary season. Voters throughout the Hawkeye State will gather at caucus sites and hear a pitch from each candidate or a surrogate for each candidate before casting their vote. 

Iowa has given candidates momentum to eventually win the party’s nomination – such as for Barack Obama in 2008 – or crushed candidates’ presidential dreams.

Trump lost the 2016 Iowa caucus to Sen. Ted Cruz. 

January 15, 2024: E. Jean Carroll defamation trial begins 

 E. Jean Carroll’s original defamation lawsuit against Trump goes to trial – but luckily for the ex-president, with the Iowa caucuses happening the same day, the 2024 Republican hopeful doesn’t have to attend in person. 

Carroll sued Trump in November 2019 for defamation after he publicly denied her claims of being raped by him in 1996 in the Bergdorf Goodman department store i New York City. Trump said that Carroll was ‘totally lying’ and ‘not my type.’ 

In a separate lawsuit that went to trial earlier this year, jury members found that Trump did not rape Carroll but sexually abused her and awarded her $5 million in the suit, something Trump is challenging.  

Trump complained Tuesday about all of his court dates coming up as he attempts to retake the White House

Trump complained Tuesday about all of his court dates coming up as he attempts to retake the White House 

January 23, 2024: The tentative date for the New Hampshire primary 

The Granite State will hold its first-in-the-nation primary a week after the Iowa caucuses. In 2016, New Hamphire gave Trump his first primary election night win. In current polls, he’s 40 points ahead of the second-place candidate, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

January 29, 2024: Trial in pyramid scheme class-action suit

Yet another trial will kick off in January. This federal class action lawsuit was filed just before the 2018 midterms and alleged that Trump and his three eldest children convinced consumers to invest in a get-rich-quick scheme. ‘The Investments did not – and could not – offer a reasonable probability of success,’ the lawsuit said. 

February 8, 2024: Nevada caucuses

The third primary contest of the year takes place in Nevada. Trump won the Nevada caucuses in 2016.  

February 24, 2024: South Carolina primary 

The fourth primary contest will take place in South Carolina, where two of Trump’s Republican rivals are from.  

February 27, 2024: Michigan primary 

The fifth primary contest next year will take place in Michigan, a state Trump won in the general election in 2016, helping him win the White House over Hillary Clinton. 

Since then, the state has been trending blue, with a Democratic governor, Democrats controlling state government and President Joe Biden winning the state over Trump during the 2020 race. ‘ 

March 5, 2024: Super Tuesday 

Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont and Virginia will hold their primaries next year on Super Tuesday. 

March 25, 2024: Hush money case goes to trial 

About a year after Trump’s first indictment, on New York state charges related to the hush money payments given to porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election, the case will go to trial. 

If GOP voters coalesce around one Trump rival, the Republican primary could still be ongoing. 

During his last competitive cycle, Trump didn’t become the presumptive GOP nominee until May 3, 2016. 

The classified documents case is set to go to trial in mid-May despite Trump's lawyers pushing Trump-appointed federal Judge Aileen M. Cannon to delay it until after the 2024 presidential election

The classified documents case is set to go to trial in mid-May despite Trump’s lawyers pushing Trump-appointed federal Judge Aileen M. Cannon to delay it until after the 2024 presidential election 

May 20, 2024: Classified documents trial is set to begin 

The Trump-appointed federal Judge Aileen M. Cannon picked mid-May for the classified documents trial to begin. 

Special Counsel Jack Smith’s team had originally wanted the Florida-based case to go to trial in December, while Trump’s lawyers asked that it be delayed until after the 2024 presidential election. 

July 15 to 18 2024: Republican National Convention

Republicans will make their primary pick official at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Democrats were supposed to have their 2020 convention in the midwestern city, but instead held a scaled-back version in Wilmington, Delaware due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 

November 4, 2024: Election Day 

Americans will vote for president on the first Tuesday of November next year. Â