The trial of Donald Trump on charges of plotting to overturn the 2020 presidential election result has been set for 4 March 2024.
The date means Trump’s trial could start almost exactly eight months before the 2024 US presidential election.
The former president is currently hot favourite to win the Republican nomination to take on President Joe Biden.
Trump’s lawyers were trying to get the trial to start in April 2026.
But US District Judge Tanya Chutkan said: “The public has a right to a prompt and efficient resolution of this matter.”
The federal case is one of four criminal cases facing Trump – including one in Georgia, where he is also due to be arraigned on 6 September.
Trump, a Republican, was charged earlier this month in a four-count indictment with scheming to undo his loss to Democrat Mr Biden in the 2020 election.
