On Wednesday, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee ruled in favor of President Trump and his co-defendants’ attorneys, ordering an urgent hearing to investigate whether Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis should be removed from her RICO case against Trump due to potential perjury under oath.
Judge McAfee has granted a “certificate of immediate review”, signifying that their request to disqualify Willis “is of such importance to the case that immediate review should be had,” as stated in a legal document shared online. Willis and her legal representatives now have the opportunity to appeal to a higher court to challenge McAfee’s ruling.
Last Friday, Judge McAfee had ruled in favor of District Attorney Fani Willis, allowing her RICO case against Trump and his associates to proceed.
In his 23-page ruling, Judge McAfee ruled that Willis can remain on the case against President Trump on the condition that her lover, special prosecutor Nathan Wade, steps down from the case.
Subsequently, Nathan Wade resigned from the RICO case that Friday afternoon.
BREAKING: 🚨🚨
— Phil Holloway ✈️ (@PhilHollowayEsq) March 20, 2024
Judge grants “certificate of immediate review” in the #FaniWillis disqualification motion
This means the Court of Appeals has to also approve, but it’s likely to be allowed
The issue is too important pic.twitter.com/Ot6DQ21DBM
Judge McAfee further stated that he will proceed with pretrial motions while the review of Willis’ qualifications is ongoing.
The Georgia Court of Appeals has 45 days to make a decision regarding any appeal concerning the judge’s disqualification order.
Trump’s attorney, Steve Sadow, described Judge McAfee’s decision as “highly significant.”
“The defense is optimistic that appellate review will lead to the case being dismissed and the DA being disqualified,” Sadow stated, as reported by Fox News.
More from Fox News:
A Georgia judge presiding over the 2020 election interference case against former President Trump announced Wednesday that Trump and his co-defendants can appeal the order that denied the disqualification of embattled DA Fani Wills.
Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee on Wednesday issued a certificate of immediate review, allowing Trump and eight co-defendants to seek an appeal of the order.
The defense now has 10 days to submit an application to the Georgia Court of Appeals, which will have 45 days to decide whether they will hear the case from March 15, when the order was issued. Under Georgia law, the Georgia Court of Appeals is not required to hear the case.
“Upon review of the Defendants’ joint motion for a Certificate of Immediate Review, the Court finds that the Order on the Defendants’ Motions to Dismiss and Disqualify the Fulton County District Attorney issued March 15, 2024, ‘is of such importance to the case that immediate review should be had,’” McAfee said.
