Atlanta, Georgia – After Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee gave District Attorney Fani Willis an ultimatum to resign or remove her ex-lover and subordinate counsel, legal experts are questioning how their “illicit affair” will impact jury selection in the case against former President Trump.
Willis, who has sought a trial to commence before the November election, faced allegations that she benefited from hiring special prosecutor Nathan Wade, with whom she had a romantic involvement. However, Wade resigned from his position on Friday afternoon, leaving Willis to move forward with the prosecution.
The scandal surrounding Willis has legal experts concerned about the difficulties of jury selection in an already high-profile case. Defense attorney John Malcolm emphasized the importance of instilling confidence in the judicial process, stating that Willis’ actions have made it harder to achieve this goal.
Former legal counsel for Trump, Jim Trusty, echoed these concerns and emphasized the challenge of finding impartial jurors. He noted that the public scandal and inflammatory comments made by Willis would only complicate the process of selecting an unbiased jury.
Legal scholar John Shu highlighted the added complications the scandal brings to the prosecution of former President Trump. He emphasized that the fallout of Willis’ affair and the scolding by the Fulton County judge would further complicate jury selection.
Despite Willis’ efforts to expedite the trial, delays resulting from the motions to disqualify her and the judge’s dismissal of some charges have pushed the trial timeline further away. Shu estimated that Willis is still “months away” from getting to trial.
The impact of Willis’ scandal on the case against Trump remains to be seen. However, legal experts agree that the affair has added another layer of complexity to an already high-stakes legal battle.
Note: This article is written in AP News Style and does not quote any news organizations.