Georgia Supreme Court Permanently Disqualifies Fani Willis From Trump Election Case

The case now moves to the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia, led by executive director Pete Skandalakis, who will be responsible for appointing a new prosecutor.

Skandalakis told reporters he will begin the search immediately but could not give a timeline. Whoever takes over will face three options:

• Continue pursuing the case as Willis had structured it,

• Narrow the charges against Trump and his co-defendants, or

• Dismiss the case entirely.

Even if a new prosecutor presses forward, legal analysts note it will be difficult to prosecute Trump as a sitting president. Fourteen other defendants, however, still face active charges.

The Origins of the Case

In August 2023, a Fulton County grand jury indicted Trump and 18 allies under the state’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. The indictment accused Trump of pressuring Georgia officials to overturn the 2020 results, coordinating a “fake electors” scheme, and attempting to intimidate election workers.

Trump surrendered at the Fulton County Jail on August 24, 2023, where his historic mugshot was taken — the first ever for a U.S. president.

The Willis-Wade Controversy

Willis faced scrutiny after it was revealed she was in a romantic relationship with Nathan Wade, the outside prosecutor she had hired to lead the Trump case.

Defense attorneys argued the relationship represented a conflict of interest, pointing to allegations that Wade benefited financially from taxpayer-funded contracts. While Willis and Wade acknowledged the relationship, they denied it influenced the case. Wade resigned in 2024, but the controversy persisted, leading to the appeals court ruling that ultimately disqualified Willis and her entire office.

Ashleigh Merchant, attorney for Trump co-defendant Michael Roman, who first exposed the Willis-Wade relationship, said:

“We hope this will finally close this chapter.”

Why It Matters

The permanent removal of Willis marks a major turning point in one of the most high-profile prosecutions in U.S. history.

• For Trump: The ruling represents a significant legal victory as he seeks to put multiple criminal cases behind him while serving again as president.

• For Georgia: The case underscores the political and legal strain of pursuing a former — and now sitting — president under state law.

• For the justice system: The controversy over Willis and Wade highlights the delicate balance between perception, ethics, and prosecutorial power.

What happens next will depend on who the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council selects — and whether any prosecutor is willing to take on a case as politically charged and resource-heavy as this one.