Atlanta, Georgia – Parties involved in the Trump election interference case are facing a March 25 deadline to appeal Judge Scott McAfee’s ruling. The ruling allows Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to continue overseeing the case. Both Willis and the defense attorneys have the option to pursue an appeal for different reasons.
According to Georgia law, either side must first seek McAfee’s permission to appeal his ruling within the next 10 days. McAfee is then required to respond to the request. This puts the deadline for seeking permission to appeal at March 25. If McAfee grants a “certificate of immediate review,” the party pursuing the appeal has an additional 10 days to request the Georgia Court of Appeals to take up their appeal. The appeals court then has 45 days to decide whether to take on the case.
It is important to note that a decision from the Court of Appeals can be appealed further to the Supreme Court of Georgia. However, the Supreme Court has discretion over which cases it chooses to hear.
Former President Trump’s attorney has already indicated his intention to pursue an appeal. Trump’s primary strategy in his criminal cases has been to stall proceedings beyond the November election. He has successfully delayed the trial in the election subversion case brought by special counsel Jack Smith in Washington, DC.
The appeal process presents an opportunity for both sides to present their arguments and challenge the ruling. It remains to be seen whether either party will choose to take this route. This case has garnered significant attention and is expected to have far-reaching implications. The decision of the Court of Appeals and potentially the Supreme Court of Georgia will have a significant impact on the future of the Trump election interference case. As the deadline for appeals approaches, the legal battle shows no sign of subsiding.