Trump to be sentenced in hush money case, but judge signals no jail

US President-elect Donald Trump will be sentenced on Jan 10 in the criminal case in which he was convicted on charges involving hush money paid to a porn star, but is unlikely to face jail time or other penalties, a judge said on Jan 3.

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Justice Juan Merchan's ruling means Trump will be required to appear at a court hearing just 10 days before his Jan 20 inauguration - an unprecedented scenario in US history. Before Trump, no US president - former or sitting - had been charged with or convicted of a crime.

The judge said Trump, 78, may appear at his sentencing either in person or virtually.

He wrote that he was not inclined to sentence Trump to jail, and that a sentence of "unconditional discharge" - meaning no custody, monetary fine or probation - would be "the most viable solution".

The imposition of the sentence would pave the way for Trump to appeal. Justice Merchan acknowledged in his ruling that Trump has made clear that he intends to appeal.

In a statement, Trump spokesman Steven Cheung said there should be no sentencing in the case.

"This lawless case should have never been brought, and the Constitution demands that it be immediately dismissed," he said.

Justice Merchan announced his plan for the sentencing in denying Trump's motion to dismiss the case due to his presidential election victory. Trump's defence lawyers had argued that having the case hang over him during his presidency would impede his ability to govern.

The judge rejected that argument, writing that setting aside the jury's verdict would "undermine the rule of law in immeasurable ways".

"Defendant's status as president-elect does not require the drastic and 'rare' application of (the court's) authority to grant the (dismissal) motion," the judge wrote in the decision.