An appeals court in Georgia has delayed Donald Trump election interference trial until it rules on whether Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis can remain on the case.
Lawyers for the former US president have repeatedly sought to have Ms Willis removed from the case, arguing her romantic relationship with another prosecutor created a conflict.
Last month, the judge overseeing the case said the court found no conflict of interest and allowed the case to proceed, pending Trump’s appeal. But Wednesday’s decision will prevent the case from proceeding until the appeal ruling on Willis.
The Georgia Court of Appeals currently is scheduled to hear arguments on 4 October, making it highly unlikely that the case will be settled ahead of the presidential election in November.
Trump and 18 others have been charged in Georgia with conspiring to overturn the state’s 2020 election results, charges they deny.
The case was nearly upended when one of her co-defendants alleged that Willis had unfairly benefited from a romantic relationship with senior prosecutor Nathan Wade.
In a tense courtroom session in February, Willis acknowledged her relationship with Wade but denied any benefits.
Judge Scott McAfee finally found in March that Willis had made “significant errors of judgment” and that the relationship had created an “appearance of impropriety” that had harmed the case.
But he ruled that the lawsuit against Willis could proceed as long as Wade resigned. Wade resigned soon after.
The appeals court must rule by mid-March, a few months before the president’s next four-year term begins in January, and the case will be stayed until then.
The losing side will have the opportunity to appeal to the state Supreme Court.
The Georgia election interference case is one of three criminal cases facing President Trump. Both sides are closely monitoring the situation leading up to the November presidential election.
Last month, Willis won the primary and will be the Democratic nominee in November, facing a Republican opponent.
His opponent, a former Trump White House intern, faces an uphill battle to win in Fulton County, a Democratic stronghold that includes Atlanta.