It’s been a tumultuous week for Fulton County, Georgia, District Attorney Fani Willis. The Georgia Supreme Court blocked her attempt to remain in charge of the criminal case against former President Donald Trump and his allies for allegedly attempting to interfere in the 2020 election. In a 4-3 decision, the court declined to review a lower ruling that disqualified Willis due to a “significant appearance of impropriety” stemming from her relationship with Nathan Wade, the lead prosecutor on the case. This means Trump and his co-defendants cannot currently be charged in Georgia while Willis is in office, leaving the sprawling racketeering case unresolved. Willis stated she respects the courts and hopes that whoever takes over will handle the case courageously and in accordance with the law, offering her office’s materials to support the transition.

The fallout for Willis has been compounded by political and legal setbacks. Trump’s attorney, Steve Sadow, called the disqualification “appropriate” and accused Willis of egregious misconduct. Meanwhile, Republican Governor Brian Kemp signed Senate Bill 244, allowing disqualified prosecutors to trigger taxpayer reimbursement of defendants’ legal fees, which could exceed tens of thousands of dollars. Willis previously faced penalties herself, including over $54,000 for violating Georgia’s Open Records Act. With the appeals court ruling and new legislation, the case against Trump remains in limbo, highlighting both the legal and political ramifications of prosecutorial misconduct in high-profile election-related cases.