The Georgia Supreme Court has declined to allow Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to return to the high-profile election interference case against former President Donald Trump and his co-defendants.
In a 4-3 ruling on Tuesday, the court refused to hear Willis’ appeal of her disqualification, leaving the case’s future in the hands of the Georgia Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council.
The case will now be referred to the council, a bipartisan body composed of six district attorneys and three solicitors general from across the state. Its executive director, Peter Skandalakis, confirmed he would be responsible for appointing a new prosecutor and added that he could also take on the case himself.
The decision upholds a December 2024 ruling from an appeals court that disqualified Willis due to her romantic relationship with Nathan Wade, the special prosecutor she had appointed to lead the case. Writing for the majority, Justice Andrew Pinson said the lower court’s decision “does not raise a question of gravity that warrants our further review.”
Justice Carla Wong McMillian dissented, stating that additional guidance from the state’s highest court would have been “desirable” given the case’s complexity. Chief Justice Nels Peterson did not participate, and Justice Benjamin Land was disqualified from involvement.
In a statement following the ruling, Willis said she disagreed with the court’s choice but respected the process. “I hope that whoever is assigned to handle the case will have the courage to do what the evidence and the law demand,” she said.
Trump, speaking to reporters at the White House, praised the ruling. “It’s a great decision,” he said, again denouncing Willis’ prosecution as “a rigged case.” Trump’s lead defense attorney, Steve Sadow, echoed that sentiment, declaring, “Willis’ misconduct during the investigation and prosecution of President Trump was egregious and she deserved nothing less than disqualification. This proper decision should bring an end to the wrongful political, lawfare persecutions of the President.”
The Fulton County indictment was one of four criminal cases Trump faced in 2023, when he and 18 co-defendants were charged on racketeering and related counts. Prosecutors alleged the group engaged in a conspiracy to unlawfully overturn Georgia’s 2020 presidential election results, which Trump lost to Joe Biden. However, Trump carried Georgia in the 2024 election against then-Vice President Kamala Harris, a political shift that has added another layer of attention to the ongoing legal battle.
Willis, a Democrat, drew national scrutiny as she pursued the case. Her office secured the August 2023 indictment against Trump and his allies after a lengthy grand jury investigation. But controversy over her relationship with Wade became a flashpoint early this year when co-defendant Michael Roman filed a motion to dismiss the charges and remove Willis, arguing she had a personal financial interest in the prosecution.
With Tuesday’s decision, the high-stakes case enters a period of uncertainty. The Georgia Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council will now decide whether to appoint an outside prosecutor to continue the case or have Skandalakis take it on directly. For Willis, the ruling is a setback, ending her direct involvement in one of the most consequential prosecutions in recent U.S. history.
For Trump and his legal team, however, the ruling is a victory that further complicates the path forward for one of the most closely watched criminal cases against the former president.
Leo Cruz brings sharp insights into the world of politics, offering balanced reporting and analysis on the latest policies, elections, and global political events. With years of experience covering campaigns and interviewing world leaders, Leo ensures readers are always informed and engaged.
