Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis observes a hearing in the case of the State of Georgia v. Donald John Trump at the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 1, 2024.
Alex Slitz-Poole | Getty Images News | Getty Images
one Georgia Court of Appeals Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis was disqualified Thursday from overseeing a criminal prosecution of President-elect Donald Trump and other defendants for criminal election interference.
But an appeals court upheld indictments against defendants charged with crimes related to an attempt to overturn Trump’s 2020 election loss to President Joe Biden in Georgia.
The ruling clears the way for the resumption of criminal proceedings and the possible trial of defendants other than Trump. The president-elect is not expected to stand trial while in the White House, but he could face one after his term ends.
The decision overturns a Fulton County trial court judge’s ruling that allowed Willis to proceed with the case, even though Trump’s lawyers argued she should be barred because of an inappropriate romantic relationship with her top prosecutor of choice. Disqualified.
In its ruling, the Court of Appeal said the remedy offered by the trial judge – that Willis would remain involved in the case if the top prosecutor quit handling it – was inappropriate.
“We affirm, however, the denial of appellant’s motion to dismiss the indictment,” the appeals court said.
The Georgia case is one of two pending criminal cases against Trump.
Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Trump delivers a speech at a campaign rally held at the Forum River Center in Rome, Georgia, the United States, on March 9, 2024.
Alyssa Pointer | Reuters
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