The Georgia Court of Appeals delayed the election interference case against Donald Trump on Wednesday, virtually guaranteeing the trial will not take place before the November presidential election. The order says the prosecution will remain on hold until a panel of three of the court's judges decides whether Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis should be disqualified from the case, CNN reports. The panel is tentatively scheduled to hear arguments on Oct. 4, which means a ruling must be issued by March 14, 2025. The court could decide to act sooner.
The lead lawyer on the case for Trump welcomed the decision. The appeals court "properly stayed all proceedings against President Trump in the trial court" while considering the appeal, Steve Sadow said. Willis' office declined to comment, per CBS News. The stay does not apply to the defendants who are not part of the appeal. The court did not elaborate on its ruling Wednesday, per USA Today. (More Georgia indictment stories.)