Case on Monday will be first ever criminal trial of an ex-president as Trump’s lawyers fight to put it off and try to remove its judge

A New York appeals court on Wednesday rejected, for the third straight day, a last-ditch attempt by Donald Trump’s lawyers to delay his hush money trial.

The case is due to be tried on Monday in the first ever criminal trial of a former US president.

Trump’s lawyers argued in a short emergency hearing in Manhattan late on Wednesday afternoon that the trial should be put off indefinitely while they fight to remove the judge presiding in the case, Juan Merchan, and challenge several of his rulings.

Justice Ellen Gesmer’s ruling is another loss for Trump, who has tried repeatedly to get the trial postponed. The decision means the first of Trump’s four criminal trials will start as scheduled with the selection of the jury beginning on 15 April.