By The Midtown Times — Law & Justice Section | October 6, 2025
ATLANTA — The legal drama surrounding Georgia’s high-profile election interference case against former President Donald Trump deepened this week as the Prosecuting Attorneys Council of Georgia (PAC) requested additional time to appoint a new prosecutor following the disqualification of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.
Court-Ordered Deadline Sparks Extension Request
Judge Scott McAfee, who oversees the case, had ordered the council to name a replacement prosecutor within 14 days last Friday, warning that failure to do so could result in dismissal without prejudice, meaning the charges could be refiled later.
In response, PAC Executive Director Peter Skandalakis submitted a court filing on Saturday asking for at least 90 days to make the appointment, citing the complexity and magnitude of the case.
“Due to the extensive evidence and resources required to manage a prosecution of this nature, it will take significant time to identify a qualified District Attorney Pro Tempore willing to assume the role,” Skandalakis wrote. He added that the council expects to receive the massive case file within four weeks and is simultaneously handling over 20 other reassignments across the state.
Willis Officially Removed from Case
The request follows the Georgia Supreme Court’s decision to uphold Willis’s removal from the case. The court declined to hear her appeal last month, finalizing her disqualification after nearly two years of controversy surrounding her personal relationship with a special prosecutor assigned to the case.
Earlier, the Georgia Court of Appeals ruled that the trial court erred by failing to disqualify Willis and her entire office, stating that the move was necessary to maintain public confidence in the integrity of the prosecution. Despite her removal, the indictment against Trump and 18 co-defendants remains intact.
Trump and Allies React
The case, which accuses Trump and others of orchestrating a racketeering conspiracy to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election results, remains one of the most consequential criminal proceedings in U.S. history.
All defendants, including Trump, Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, and David Shafer, have pleaded not guilty. Shafer welcomed the development, saying he looked forward to “a review of this ridiculous case by competent and ethical prosecutors who have no partisan agenda.”
Trump, meanwhile, praised the state’s high court for rejecting Willis’s appeal, calling it a “great decision” and accusing the former district attorney of criminal misconduct. “What Fani Willis did to innocent people who love our country is disgraceful. She should be prosecuted herself,” Trump said last month.
What Comes Next
The PAC’s extension request, if granted, could delay progress in the already complicated case by several months. Legal experts note that replacing a disqualified district attorney in such a politically charged and voluminous racketeering case is highly unusual and fraught with logistical challenges.
Judge McAfee has not yet ruled on whether to approve the 90-day extension. If no replacement is appointed or the deadline is missed, the case could be temporarily dismissed, further prolonging one of the nation’s most closely watched legal battles.
Adapted and reported by The Midtown Times – Law & Justice Section.
