SAN DIEGO – A judge said Thursday he will issue a ruling at a later time on whether to accept an agreement for President Donald Trump to pay $25 million to settle lawsuits over his now-defunct Trump University.

U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel made the announcement during a hearing in San Diego. He did not say when he would make his decision.

Curiel gave preliminary approval to the deal in December.

The agreement is intended to end nearly seven years of legal battles with customers who claimed they were misled by failed promises to teach success in real estate.

It would settle two class-action lawsuits and a civil lawsuit by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.

Trump had vowed never to settle but said after the election that he didn’t have time for a trial, even though he believed he would have prevailed. He acknowledged no wrongdoing.

Attorneys for the customers have said thousands of people would get at least 80 percent of their money back, based on the roughly 3,730 claims submitted.

When attorneys reached a deal 10 days after Trump’s election, Curiel said he hoped it would be part of “a healing process that this country very sorely needs.” A month later, he granted the preliminary approval.

But two customers have objected, and Curiel will also decide whether to allow one of them to opt out and sue the president individually.

Trump has paid $25 million into escrow to settle the cases.