Judge sets Nov. 14 deadline to name new prosecutor in Georgia Trump case
Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee set a firm Nov. 14 deadline for the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia (PACGA) to appoint a district attorney pro tempore to replace Fani Willis in the election case against Donald Trump or obtain relief, warning the case could be dismissed for want of prosecution. PACGA had asked for up to 90 days after receiving the voluminous physical case file—saying it likely won’t get the file for about four weeks and citing a heavy caseload and numerous conflict referrals—but the judge granted far less time and said he would compel Willis’s office to promptly turn over the file if PACGA requests it.
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📌 Key Facts
- The 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, saying PACGA cannot perform due diligence or answer potential appointees’ questions without the file and is having difficulty finding a prosecutor "not encumbered by a significant appearance of impropriety."
- PACGA told the court the investigative file is so large it likely will not be received for about four weeks, and that an appointment may not occur until January or February 2026.
- PACGA said it is managing 21 pending appointments and has handled 448 conflict referrals statewide this year, citing that workload as part of the delay rationale.
- Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee set a firm Nov. 14 deadline for PACGA to appoint a new prosecutor or obtain court-ordered relief, granting less than half the time PACGA sought in its motion.
- McAfee said he would sign an order compelling former Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’s office to promptly turn over the investigative file if PACGA requests it.
- A judge had earlier warned the case could be dismissed "for want of prosecution" unless a replacement prosecutor or an extension was provided within 14 days, creating urgency for PACGA to act.
📰 Sources (4)
Judge sets Nov. 14 deadline for new prosecutor in Georgia election case against Trump
New information:
- Judge Scott McAfee set a firm Nov. 14 deadline for PACGA to appoint a new prosecutor or obtain relief.
- McAfee said he would sign an order compelling Fani Willis’s office to promptly turn over the investigative file if PACGA requests it.
- The court granted less than half of the time PACGA sought after it argued it had not yet received the physical case file.
Georgia prosecutors request 90-day extension to replace Willis in Trump election case
New information:
- 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.
Georgia prosecutors request 90-day extension to replace Willis in Trump election case
New information:
- 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.