Former President Donald J. Trump attended a court hearing in Florida where his legal team sought access to classified materials for his defense in a case related to retaining classified documents after leaving office.

The hearing, which saw Trump and his lawyers spend around five hours in Federal District Court in Fort Pierce, Fla., was a pivotal moment in Trump's ongoing legal battles. The closed-door session aimed to persuade Judge Aileen M. Cannon to grant Trump's team access to highly classified evidence that prosecutors argue is irrelevant to the case. Outside the courthouse, dozens of Trump supporters gathered, highlighting the public interest in the proceedings.