Fulton County District Attorney, Fani Willis, proposed an ambitious timeline for former president Donald Trump‘s trial in the Georgia indictment. However, an expert deems this timeline “overly optimistic” due to the logistical complexities of such a large-scale trial.
What Happened: The district attorney requested a judge to commence the trial of the former president and 18 co-defendants in March 2024.
Trump and his associates face a total of 41 charges under Georgia’s RICO Act, stemming from Willis’s probe into their efforts to retain Trump’s presidency following the 2020 election loss. Despite the ambitious timeline, Willis has indicated her office’s intent to expedite the case, stating, “We do want to move this case along.”
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Legal experts predict the trial’s logistics, including accommodating each defendant’s schedule, could cause extensive delays. Kay Levine, a law professor at Emory University, expressed concerns about the trial turning into a “circus atmosphere,” The Hill reported.
A six-month timetable is "overly optimistic; very, very ambitious; and not really realistic," Levine added.
"It's certainly a fair question to ask, like, do we even have a courtroom that's going to fit all these people? A counsel table? It's a logistical hassle," Levine said.
"It's going to be a challenge to run this whole trial," she added.
Willis plans to try all 19 defendants together, which could lead to additional logistical issues due to the sheer number of people involved, including attorneys, court staff, the jury, and Trump’s Secret Service protection.
Jeffrey Cohen, an associate professor at Boston College Law School and a former federal prosecutor, said "I would hope that the judge will both respect the need for the public's right to have a speedy trial … with the former president's right to participate in the presidential primary season."
Why It Matters: This trial is among a series of legal battles faced by Donald Trump. The charges, linked to attempts to overturn Joe Biden‘s 2020 election victory, mark the fourth time Trump has been indicted this year, piling onto his legal woes ahead of the 2024 elections.
Amidst these legal proceedings, Trump continues to deny all allegations and has been critical of the indictment, labeling it a “witch hunt.”
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