Donald Trump is hoping that the right-leaning top court will save him from at least one of his legal woes. Meanwhile, a separate case over hush money charges is keeping him occupied in New York.

The Supreme Court of the United States is scheduled to hear arguments on Thursday from former President Donald Trump's legal team. They argue that he should be granted immunity from criminal prosecution for any actions taken during his presidency.

However, Trump will not attend the hearing as he had hoped, due to another separate trial in Manhattan. The outcome of the Supreme Court's decision could significantly affect Trump's potential third run for the White House later this year and establish a precedent for future US presidents amidst his myriad legal challenges.

The federal case before the Supreme Court pertains to charges that the former president conspired to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, which ended with thousands of his supporters storming the US Congress while lawmakers endorsed President Joe Biden's victory.

Lower courts have rejected Trump's claims that he is immune from criminal prosecution because he was still president at the time.

The ruling of the nine leading justices — three of whom were appointed by Trump — could be decisive in the outcome of the former president's main legal challenges. However, if the Supreme Court justices do agree with the lower courts on the question of presidential immunity, their ruling may be too late for the trial to be held before the November elections.

Even if the trial goes ahead on time and Trump is convicted, some legal scholars say he would have the ability to pardon himself, if he wins the November election.

The Supreme Court's decision will, however, not impact the New York trial as this revolves around 34 state felony charges related to paying hush money in the run-up to the 2016 presidential election in an attempt to suppress potentially embarrassing stories from emerging.

As a state case, Trump would also not be able to pardon himself if elected president. The charges carry a maximum sentence of four years in prison, but it is not clear the judge would seek jail time.

The 77-year-old Republican presidential hopeful had asked for his presence not be required at Thursday's criminal trial in order so he could sit in on the Supreme Court hearing, but Judge Juan Merchan denied the request.

"Arguing before the Supreme Court is a big deal, and I can certainly appreciate why your client would want to be there, but a trial in New York Supreme Court is also a big deal," Merchan said last week.