Georgia prosecutors request 90‑day extension to appoint replacement prosecutor in Trump election case
PACGA executive director Pete Skandalakis filed a motion asking a judge to allow up to 90 days after the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia receives the full case file—likely in about four weeks—to name a district attorney pro tempore to replace Fani Willis, saying the council is managing 21 pending appointments, has handled 448 conflict referrals this year, and cannot complete due diligence or answer potential appointees’ questions without the file. A Fulton County judge had set a 14‑day deadline and warned the case could be dismissed for want of prosecution unless a replacement or extension was provided, and the motion also cites difficulty finding a prosecutor “not encumbered by a significant appearance of impropriety.”
📌 Key Facts
- Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia (PACGA) executive director Pete Skandalakis filed a motion asking the court to allow up to 90 days after PACGA receives the full case file to name a district attorney pro tempore to replace Fulton County DA Fani Willis in the Trump election case.
- PACGA told the court the case file is so large it likely will not be received for about four weeks, and the appointment may not occur until January or February 2026.
- The motion cites PACGA’s current workload—managing 21 pending appointments and having handled 448 conflict referrals statewide this year—as part of the rationale for the requested delay.
- Skandalakis emphasized PACGA cannot perform necessary due diligence or adequately answer potential appointees’ questions without having the full file in hand.
- The motion also notes difficulties finding a prosecutor who would not be viewed as having a 'significant appearance of impropriety.'
- A Fulton County judge warned the case could be dismissed 'for want of prosecution' unless a replacement or an extension was provided within 14 days.
📰 Sources (3)
- Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia executive director Pete Skandalakis filed a motion asking the court to allow up to 90 days after PACGA receives the full case file to name a district attorney pro tempore.
- PACGA told the court the file is so large it likely will not be received for about four weeks, and an appointment may not occur until January or February 2026.
- PACGA is managing 21 pending appointments and reported having handled 448 conflict referrals statewide so far this year, which it cites as part of the delay rationale.
- Skandalakis emphasized the inability to perform due diligence or answer potential appointees' questions without having the file in hand.
- PACGA executive director Pete Skandalakis filed the extension request and said the full case file likely won’t be received for about four weeks.
- PACGA states it is managing 21 pending appointments and has handled 448 conflict referrals statewide this year.
- The motion explicitly requests up to 90 days after receipt of the file to name a district attorney pro tempore and notes difficulties finding a prosecutor 'not encumbered by a significant appearance of impropriety.'
- A Fulton County judge had warned the case could be dismissed 'for want of prosecution' unless a replacement or extension was provided within 14 days.