A Georgia appeals court has decided to cancel oral arguments that were scheduled for next month regarding the appeal of a lower court ruling allowing Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to continue prosecuting the election interference case against President-elect Donald Trump. The Georgia Court of Appeals had set oral arguments for December 5, but in a brief order, the court stated that the hearing is canceled until further notice.
In August 2023, a Fulton County grand jury indicted Trump and 18 others, alleging their involvement in an illegal scheme to overturn the 2020 presidential election in Georgia. While four defendants have pleaded guilty, Trump and the remaining defendants have pleaded not guilty.
The future of the case against Trump, who is expected to return to the White House in January, was already uncertain. Trump and other defendants sought to have Willis and her office removed from the case, citing a conflict of interest due to a romantic relationship between Willis and special prosecutor Nathan Wade. However, a Superior Court Judge ruled in March that no conflict of interest existed to disqualify Willis, but allowed an appeal to the Court of Appeals.
The judge expressed concerns about the truthfulness of testimonies regarding the timing of the relationship between Willis and Wade, leading to an appearance of impropriety. He permitted Willis to continue on the case only if Wade resigned, which he did promptly after the ruling.
The case faced turmoil as details of the personal relationship between Willis and Wade were revealed in court in mid-February. The appeal sought to dismiss the case and remove Willis from her role as prosecutor, but the Court of Appeals' decision to cancel the oral arguments adds further uncertainty to the proceedings.
