Georgia’s most perilous lawsuit involving Trump might also face the lengthiest postponement.

Fulton County District Attorney Aims to‍ Bring Trump and Associates to Trial by March‌ 2024

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is⁢ determined to ⁢bring former President Donald ⁤Trump and his 18 associates to trial by March 4, 2024, according to a recent filing. However, legal experts‍ have expressed skepticism about the proposed timeline, citing the complexity​ of the charges and the ambitious nature of ‌the schedule.

The Washington Examiner spoke to multiple‍ legal experts ⁢who questioned whether Willis could successfully present her case to an‍ Atlanta-based jury within such a short timeframe.​ Trump and his allies, including Mark Meadows‍ and⁣ Rudy Giuliani, are facing a‌ sweeping 41-count racketeering indictment related to their alleged efforts to undermine the 2020 election‍ results in Georgia.

Legal Challenges and Time Constraints

Unlike the federal cases​ Trump is currently facing,⁣ he cannot be pardoned in this ⁢state case. If convicted, he would face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years.⁣ Notably, legal expert Alan Dershowitz described this as the “most dangerous ‍case” but also the “weakest case.” ⁤He expressed doubts about the feasibility of conducting a fair trial within six to ten months, accusing Willis of being untruthful about her ‌intentions.

The presiding judge in the case, Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee, will ultimately ‌decide on the trial schedule once the ‍defendants’‌ attorneys submit their desired schedule. The current start date is set just one day before the Super ‍Tuesday primary contests, a significant milestone in⁢ Trump’s ​pursuit ⁤of the Republican primary nomination.

However, McAfee will face challenges in finding available court dates during an election ⁣cycle where the⁢ leading candidate is simultaneously battling four criminal ‌cases in ‍different courtrooms across the country.

Furthermore, there is a “legal traffic jam” in Georgia’s ​largest county, according⁢ to criminal ⁤defense attorney Jeff Brickman. The Fulton​ County court system is reportedly dealing⁣ with a backlog of cases, making it difficult to prioritize the Trump trial over other pending matters.

Previous Cases and Potential Delays

Willis is‌ currently utilizing Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and⁢ Corruption Organization Act ​law in an unrelated case involving the Young Slime Life gang. The jury selection for this case began in January and is ​still ongoing after eight months. Dershowitz believes that similar⁣ procedures ⁣in Trump’s​ case would take even longer.

Clark Cunningham, a professor at ​Georgia‍ State University specializing in constitutional and criminal law, pointed‌ out‌ that a previous RICO‍ case led ⁤by Willis took two years before it went to trial. He​ also mentioned that any additional delays​ could arise from⁢ Trump’s attempt to move the case​ to federal court, as Meadows has already made such a request.

Despite the challenges, Willis’s recommendation to begin the trial within six⁣ months‍ sends a strong signal that she is determined not to let the case linger. Caren Myers Morrison, a professor at Georgia State specializing in criminal procedure and jury⁣ selection, described the recommendation as “aspirational.”

The Allegations Against Trump

Trump is accused of being at the center ​of a criminal conspiracy ⁤to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia. The‍ indictment includes charges such as making false statements, filing false documents and forgeries, impersonating officials, computer breaches, and attempts to influence witnesses. Trump is expected to plead ⁢not ‌guilty to all 13 charges.

Willis has given the defendants until August ⁢25 at noon to surrender voluntarily.