Supreme Court to hear January 6 case with MAJOR implications for Trump's election fraud trial: Rioter challenging being charged under obstruction law

• The Supreme Court will likely hear arguments in March or April
• Joseph Fischer has appealed a court's decision to reinstate obstruction charge
• The Supreme Court's decision could impact the case against Donald Trump 

The Supreme Court on Wednesday said it would hear an appeal that could upend hundreds of cases stemming from the January 6 riot, including Donald Trump's election fraud trial.

The court announced it would rule on whether or not a defendant can be charged with obstructing an official proceeding. 

That is among the four charges facing the former president in Special Counsel Jack Smith's federal case.

But the announcement could throw a wrinkle in the prosecutor's plan to start Trump's trial on March 4.

Justices are expected to hear oral arguments in March or April, with a decision by early summer. 

At least 152 people have been convicted of obstructing an official proceeding, according to the Associated Press, a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

In all, the charge has been brought against more than 300 people, accused of trying to prevent Congress certifying Joe Biden's 2020 election victory. 

The case is brought by former Boston police officer Joseph Fischer who was indicted on seven charges following the 6 riot including one count for anyone who 'corruptly ... obstructs, influences and impedes any official proceeding.'

A lower court dismissed the charge after Fischer's lawyers argued he did not try to interfere with any documents or records.

Federal prosecutors appealed and a three-judge panel on the D.C. circuit reinstated the charge. 

Now the nation's highest court will have its say.

Trump faces four charges brought by the special counsel: Conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding; obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding; conspiracy to defraud the United States; and conspiracy to deprive citizens of their voting rights.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to these charges, and to dozens more charges stemming from three other criminal prosecutions.

Meanwhile, his lawyers told a federal appeals court on Wednesday that it should not rush its consideration of whether the former president is immune from prosecution.

His legal team accused Smith of trying to hurry through the 2020 election case through before next year's presidential vote.

'The prosecution has one goal in this case: To unlawfully attempt to try, convict and sentence President Trump before an election in which he is likely to defeat President Biden,' defence lawyers wrote.

'This represents a blatant attempt to interfere with the 2024 presidential election and to disenfranchise the tens of millions of voters who support President Trump's candidacy.'

They want to argue that Trump is immune from prosecution for actions he took as president, and lodged an appeal after the trial judge rejected their position.

Smith is trying to speed things up by taking the question to the Supreme Court and asking justices to consider it during its current term.