A judge in Manhattan rejected Donald Trump’s bid to throw out criminal charges against him that stem from a hush-money payment to a porn star in 2016, clearing the way for the first prosecution of a former American president in the nation’s history.

The judge, Juan Merchan, scheduled the trial to begin on March 25, ensuring that Trump will face at least one jury before Election Day.

The New York case is generally viewed as the least significant of the four criminal cases against the former president, but it still presents a formidable threat. Trump is facing 34 felony charges and, if convicted, a sentence of up to four years in prison. It is also a state case, meaning Trump could not pardon himself even if he is elected in November.

The trial was originally scheduled to come after Trump’s federal election interference trial in Washington, which is now stalled. The federal trial could take place in the late spring or early summer, or not at all, depending on the Supreme Court, which will soon have to decide whether Trump has executive immunity.

In the Georgia case against Trump, a hearing was held today in which a key witness testified that the top prosecutors were in a romantic relationship earlier than they had said. The timing is crucial to the defense’s argument that Fani Willis, the Fulton County district attorney leading the prosecution, should be disqualified, which would probably derail the case against Trump. Willis took the stand and delivered a fiery rebuttal.