Judge says either Willis or Wade must step down

[Ombligo]

(Sorry, I didn't see the post about this a few threads down)

The judge overseeing the Georgia election interference case against former President Donald Trump and his co-defendants has declined to outright disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, but ruled that either she or prosecutor Nathan Wade must step aside from the case.

In a 23-page ruling, Judge Scott McAfee wrote that while "dismissal of the indictment is not the appropriate remedy," he concluded that "the established record now highlights a significant appearance of impropriety that infects the current structure of the prosecution team."

McAfee ordered that the conflict described by the defendants presents "an appearance that must be removed through the State's selection of one of two options."

"The District Attorney may choose to step aside, along with the whole of her office, and refer the prosecution to the Prosecuting Attorneys' Council for reassignment," McAfee wrote.

"Alternatively, SADA Wade can withdraw, allowing the District Attorney, the Defendants, and the public to move forward without his presence or remuneration distracting from and potentially compromising the merits of this case."

In justifying his decision, McAfee found that defendants "failed to meet their burden of proving that the District Attorney acquired an actual conflict of interest" -- the standard by which McAfee apparently measured his ruling.

https://www.yahoo.com/gma/judge-trump-el...10125.html

[Speedy]

I can live with that.

[RAMd®d]

a significant appearance of impropriety that infects the current structure of the prosecution team


That's the problem, even when there is no impropriety.

Once the doubt is cast, it's difficult to impossible to put that toothpaste back in the tube.

I think the judge's decision is the best one could reasonably respect, in particular the "failed to meet their burden of proving that the District Attorney acquired an actual conflict of interest" bit.

[Spock]

Fani Willis will appoint a new lead prosecutor and then should not set foot in Judge McAfee's courtroom until the guilty verdict is read out. She should not make any further public pronouncements on the case either.

[hal]

breaking: Wade just resigned

[rgG]

hal wrote:
breaking: Wade just resigned

I hope this lets the trial to get back on track.

[RgrF]

With her political career over she may want to tread on her new found notoriety and enter the high profile and sometimes higher fee defense arena. Doesn't work for everybody, Christopher Dardin of "may I offer you a glove Mr. Simpson" fame was last seen running for a bus that might lead to becoming a minor Los Angeles Judge.

[hal]

RgrF wrote:
With her political career over she may want to tread on her new found notoriety and enter the high profile and sometimes higher fee defense arena. Doesn't work for everybody, Christopher Dardin of "may I offer you a glove Mr. Simpson" fame was last seen running for a bus that might lead to becoming a minor Los Angeles Judge.

or she'll just start a podcast...

[AllGold]

On Joy Reid's show tonight, both she and Katie Feng made the point that there was no legal basis to dismiss the case--nothing, zilch (the judge found no evidence of financial gain or conflict of interest). Fani Willis is being held to a higher standard compared to the actual defendants because she's a black woman.

And the judge, who is also up for reelection soon, is editorializing and trying to help himself politically much the same way as Hur was with the Biden documents case. He could have--and should have--stopped at the legal finding.

[pdq]

RgrF wrote:
With her political career over she may want to tread on her new found notoriety and enter the high profile and sometimes higher fee defense arena. Doesn't work for everybody, Christopher Dardin of "may I offer you a glove Mr. Simpson" fame was last seen running for a bus that might lead to becoming a minor Los Angeles Judge.

Not sure at all her political career is over.

If her office brings in guilty verdicts against these defendants (above those who have already copped to plea deals), you think she’s just going to quietly fade away? What other state county DA is anywhere near her?