The president-elect received an unconditional discharge of his sentence, which formalizes his status as a felon and makes him the first to carry that distinction into the White House. He had fought to avoid the proceeding at every turn.

The court’s 5-4 decision Thursday to deny the president-elect’s last-minute effort to delay sentencing in his New York hush money case set up a stunning moment in court on Friday morning, just 10 days before Trump will be sworn in for a second term.

The criminal case brought against Trump by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg began trial proceedings last April. After juggling courtroom visits in multiple legal cases with campaign rallies, Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts against him by a New York jury on May 30, 2024.