In a potential blow to Donald Trump, the Supreme Court will consider a request from prosecutor Jack Smith to fast-track an appeal in one of Trump's criminal trials.

Trump's appeal in his 2020 election case raises the possibility that his trial will be delayed - a possibility Smith is trying to shut down by asking the Supreme Court to get involved right away.

The court has asked Trump to respond by December 20.

Supreme Court order

Smith claims that Trump undermined democracy by spreading "disinformation" about the 2020 election and taking actions to subvert the outcome.

In an unusual, florid ruling, district judge Tanya Chutkan dismissed Trump's request to dismiss the charges and accused him of invoking the divine right of kings.

Trump argues that he is immune to criminal charges because he was following his official presidential duties to ensure the election - which he maintains was rigged - was conducted lawfully.

Trump's lawyers are also saying Trump is shielded by the principle of double jeopardy, since he was already acquitted of "insurrection" by the Congress two years ago.

Despite appointing the court's current conservative majority, Trump was famously rebuffed by the court in 2020 when he challenged the results of the presidential election.

It's unclear how the Supreme Court would respond to Smith's groundbreaking prosecution of Trump, which raises unprecedented constitutional issues as well as concerns about interference in democracy.

Rushing to trial

The trial is tentatively scheduled to begin in March, one day before the most important day in the presidential primary, and Smith says there's no time for delay.

Trump and his allies say it's clear now that Smith wants to rush the case to trial before the 2024 election to benefit Joe Biden.

"There is absolutely no reason to rush this sham to trial except to injure President Trump and tens of millions of his supporters. President Trump will continue to fight for Justice and oppose these authoritarian tactics,” the Trump campaign said in a statement.

On a separate but related note, the Supreme Court has agreed to consider the appeals of a January 6th protester charged with "obstruction of an official proceeding."

The court's decision could affect Trump, who was charged by Smith with that crime, and hundreds of Trump supporters who were also indicted under the statute.