Lawyers across the legal industry, from retired judges and professors to Big Law partners, underscored the gravity of former President Donald Trump’s indictment on felony charges in connection with his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, but several indicated that the verdict in the case could stretch past the 2024 general election.

A grand jury convened by special counsel Jack Smith to investigate Trump and his allies’ attempts to overturn the 2020 election voted to charge Trump with conspiracy to defraud the United States, witness tampering and conspiracy against the rights of citizens, and obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding.