A Georgia appeals court has scheduled a hearing for December to consider the appeal of a lower court decision allowing Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to proceed with the prosecution of the election interference case against former President Donald Trump.
Trump and other defendants had requested oral arguments in the case, and the court has set the arguments for December 5. This timing means that the lower court proceedings against Trump, which are currently on hold pending the appeal, will not resume before the November general election, where Trump will be the Republican nominee for president.
The appeal will be heard by a three-judge panel of the intermediate appeals court, who will have until mid-March to make a ruling. The assigned judges are Trenton Brown, Todd Markle, and Benjamin Land. If the panel rules against them, the losing party could seek an appeal with the Georgia Supreme Court.
Last August, a Fulton County grand jury indicted Trump and 18 others for allegedly participating in a scheme to overturn the 2020 presidential election in Georgia. While some defendants have pleaded guilty, Trump and others have pleaded not guilty.
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This case is one of four criminal cases against Trump, with recent developments favoring the former president. A federal judge in Florida dismissed a case related to Trump’s handling of classified documents, and other cases have faced delays due to various legal proceedings.
Trump and other defendants are seeking to have Willis and her office removed from the case, alleging a conflict of interest due to a relationship between Willis and special prosecutor Nathan Wade. Despite initial findings of no conflict of interest, an appeal was granted to review the ruling.
Allegations of improper favoritism stemming from the relationship between Willis and Wade led to a tumultuous period in the case, with personal details being aired in court.
