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A significant legal case regarding whether Donald Trump should be immune from criminal prosecution is set to take place in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday. Trump's defense team will argue that his status as a former president protects him from charges related to the alleged election fraud during the 2020 presidential race. A special counsel has accused Trump of attempting to overturn Joe Biden's victory. The outcome of this hearing could have a significant impact on Trump's future. His legal team is using a similar defense strategy in another set of election charges he faces in Georgia. It is expected that this issue will eventually reach the US Supreme Court, possibly during the heated 2024 election campaign where Trump is a favored contender for the Republican nomination. Prolonged legal battles over immunity could potentially delay criminal trials until after the November election, where Trump is projected to compete against Democratic President Joe Biden. For many years, Trump has invoked presidential immunity to counter both civil and criminal cases brought against him. While the US Constitution does not explicitly mention presidential immunity, courts have generally supported the idea of protecting government officials from lawsuits. However, when it comes to the criminal prosecution of sitting or former presidents, there is no established legal precedent. Prior to the hearing, Jack Smith, the special counsel prosecuting Trump, warned the court that failing to allow Trump to face prosecution would create a dangerous situation, granting presidents the ability to commit crimes to remain in office. In December, US District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan rejected the immunity defense, ruling that Trump serving as president does not grant him a lifelong exemption from legal consequences. On Monday, Trump argued on social media that he was not campaigning when he challenged his election loss to Biden, but rather acting in his presidential capacity by highlighting voter fraud. The three-judge panel at the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit will hear oral arguments in this case and issue a ruling at a later date. The courtroom is located near the US Capitol, where Trump supporters staged a riot to block Biden's certification as president in January 2021. To bolster their defense, Trump's lawyers will highlight his acquittal by the Senate during his impeachment trial, regarding his actions leading up to the violence. The criminal trial for the election fraud charges is currently scheduled for March 4, pending the appeals court ruling. The appeal court consists of two judges appointed by Democratic presidents and one by a Republican. Regardless of the outcome, it is widely anticipated that the case will ultimately reach the US Supreme Court, which currently holds a conservative majority. The Supreme Court recently declined a request by Jack Smith to expedite a ruling on Trump's immunity claim. Additionally, the court has decided to hear Trump's appeal against the state of Colorado for excluding him from the ballot based on a rarely invoked insurrectionist clause of the US constitution.