The federal judge overseeing the prosecution of former President Donald J. Trump on charges of unlawfully withholding dozens of classified documents has set a trial date for Friday for May 2024, striking a middle ground between the government’s request for a December trial and Trump’s desire to postpone the trial until after the 2024 election.

In her order, Judge Aileen M. Cannon said the trial would take place in her home courthouse in Fort Pierce, Florida, a coastal city 2 1/2 hours north of Miami that will draw her jury from several counties Trump won handily in his previous two presidential campaigns.

Judge Cannon also set a schedule of hearings, through the remainder of this year and into next, including those related to the handling of the classified material at the center of the case.

The scheduling order came after a contentious hearing Tuesday in federal court in Fort Pierce, where prosecutors working for special counsel Jack Smith and Trump’s lawyers sparred over when to hold the trial.

The timing of the proceedings is more important in this case than in most criminal matters because Trump is now the favorite for the Republican presidential nomination and his legal obligations to appear in court will intersect with his campaign agenda.

In fact, the date Judge Cannon chose to start the trial, May 20, 2024, is one day before the primary in the key state of Georgia. But it falls after most of the major racing contests have already taken place.