In a recent ruling by a Georgia judge, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has been allowed to continue with her election interference case against former President Donald Trump and his co-defendants. This decision brings hope for the prosecution, though potential obstacles still remain.

One major hurdle was cleared when Willis accepted the resignation of Nathan Wade, the special prosecutor whom she had appointed to lead the case. Judge Scott McAfee determined that Willis' romantic relationship with Wade created an "appearance of impropriety" and mandated that either Willis or Wade had to step down. Wade submitted his resignation on Friday, expressing his desire to expedite the case's progress.

The alternative to Willis recusing herself would have involved the Prosecuting Attorneys' Council finding another prosecutor capable of handling the extensive and politically charged case. Such a process would have inevitably delayed the trial until next year.

While Trump and his co-defendants cannot appeal the judge's decision to keep Willis involved at this stage, they could request a "certificate of immediate review," which would have a similar effect. Trump's attorney, Steve Sadow, hinted at the possibility of seeking such a review, citing concerns about prosecutorial misconduct.

Furthermore, if an appellate review is granted, it raises questions about whether the case would proceed during the review or be put on hold. Defense lawyer and former federal prosecutor Amy Lee Copeland believes that the defendants will face challenges in obtaining a review. However, it remains uncertain if a stay will be necessary.

Judge McAfee has yet to set a trial date for the case. The DA's office initially requested an August 5, 2024 trial date, but Trump's lawyers argued for a later date, preferably after the election and his potential second term in office. Wade, on the other hand, believed an August trial would not impede Trump's campaign activities.

The DA's office justified the August date due to pending Trump criminal trials scheduled for earlier in 2024, yet those trial dates are now uncertain. Trump, who has pled not guilty in all four cases, has persistently labeled them as part of a partisan "witch hunt."

While a trial date for Trump's federal election interference case had been set for March 4, it has been indefinitely postponed pending the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on Trump's claims of presidential immunity. Another trial in Florida concerning federal charges of mishandling and hiding classified documents is officially slated for May 20th, but the judge overseeing the case has suggested a potential postponement. The Manhattan District Attorney's case, accusing Trump of falsifying business records to conceal hush money payments to an adult film star, was originally set for March 25 but has been delayed due to the late submission of evidence by federal prosecutors.

The uncertain status of the other trial dates presents an opportunity for Willis to push for an earlier trial. Some have suggested that a fast-tracked trial could be requested, emphasizing the need for speed now that the focus can be solely on the case itself.

As the legal battles in multiple jurisdictions continue, the future of the election interference case against Donald Trump remains unclear. However, with the recent ruling allowing DA Willis to continue and the possibility of expedited proceedings, the path to resolving this contentious matter seems to have been partially cleared.