New York, New York - President-elect Donald Trump on Monday urged the judge in his New York hush money case to delay the sentencing set for Friday as he prepares for his White House return.

Juan Merchan ruled last week that Trump's sentencing should go ahead despite the Republican tycoon's inauguration in two weeks, rejecting his argument that his election victory should spell an end to the case.

Trump's attorneys said in a filing that they are appealing Merchan's ruling upholding Trump's conviction by a Manhattan jury and argued the judge must pause the case in the meantime.

"By virtue of President Trump's filing of appellate proceedings raising his claims of presidential immunity, all proceedings in this court are automatically stayed by operation of federal constitutional law," Trump's legal team said.

Donald Trump Trump suffers latest blow in desperate efforts to push back sentencing in hush money case

"In the alternative, even if such a stay were discretionary, the court should grant such a stay."

The filing was made public as Trump set to be certified as the winner of the 2024 presidential election on Monday, four years after his supporters rioted at the US Capitol as he sought to overturn his 2020 defeat.

Lawyers asked Merchan to notify the parties by 2:00 PM whether he will cancel the sentencing and said they would be filing two appeals in state court.

Trump, the first former president ever convicted of a crime, has been permitted to appear either in person or virtually on Friday.

He was found guilty in May of 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels on the eve of the 2016 election to stop her from revealing an alleged 2006 affair.

Merchan has said he is leaning towards giving Trump an unconditional discharge – meaning the Republican would not only avoid the threat of jail, but would escape conditions of any kind.