Georgia judge grants Trump the right to appeal Fani Willis disqualification ruling

A Georgia judge on Wednesday granted former President Donald Trump the opportunity to appeal the recent ruling that declined to remove Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from overseeing his election interference case. 

Judge Scott McAfee issued an order that granted a request from Trump and eight of his co-defendants a certificate of immediate review of the decision, according to The Hill. 

They are expected to take the case to the Georgia Court of Appeals.

“The Court intends to continue addressing the many other unrelated pending pretrial motions, regardless of whether the petition is granted within 45 days of filing, and even if any subsequent appeal is expedited by the appellate court,” McAfee stated in his ruling.

Last week, McAfee ruled that Willis could stay on the case as long as special prosecutor Nathan Wade left the case. 

A Trump co-defendant tried to have Willis removed upon learning she and Wade, who Willis hired for the case, had or were having a romantic relationship. Among the arguments was that Willis financially benefited from the deal, considering, in part, Wade was paying for them to take romantic vacations together.

Last year Willis indicted Trump, now the apparent 2024 GOP presidential candidate, and 18 co-defendants over their efforts to challenge the 2020 election results in Georgia.