A nonpartisan watchdog group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, has demanded that Judge Aileen Cannon be removed from the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals' handling of former President Trump's classified documents case. The group argues that Cannon has engaged in various actions to undermine and derail the case, raising concerns about her impartiality.

The controversy surrounding Judge Cannon stems from her dismissal of the GOP nominee's federal case in July, citing what she deemed as the "unlawful appointment" of special counsel Jack Smith. Since then, critics have voiced their concerns over her handling of the case, accusing her of intentionally delaying its progress.

The latest development came on Tuesday, when Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, along with a retired federal judge and two legal scholars, released a brief requesting that the case be reassigned to a different judge in South Florida if the appeals court overturns Cannon's dismissal decision.

The New York Times had reported in June that Cannon had disregarded suggestions from two senior colleagues to assign the historic case to a more experienced judge. This incident, combined with other controversies and delays, formed the basis of the brief filed by the watchdog group.

The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals had previously overruled Judge Cannon, further raising questions about her decisions and credibility in handling the case. One particular concern highlighted in the brief was her "failure over the course of one year to move the case forward in any significant way—until a one-Justice concurrence in the Supreme Court's presidential-immunity opinion."

At present, the court has yet to rule on Jack Smith's appeal, and considering the timeline set by the court, it is unlikely that a decision will be reached before the 2024 election. This prolongs the legal battle and further complicates the resolution of the case.

Meanwhile, in a separate development, former President Trump lost his attempt to transfer his hush money case from New York state courts to federal jurisdiction. The case, which involves allegations of falsifying business records to conceal payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, will proceed in the hands of state Judge Juan Merchan. Trump is awaiting sentencing, with 34 felony counts found against him.

The Manhattan district attorney's office voiced opposition to Trump's efforts to delay the case by moving it to federal court. The decision lies with Judge Juan Merchan, who will determine whether sentencing will occur before or after the upcoming election, with Trump's legal team advocating for a delay until after the election.

As these legal battles unfold, the implications for Trump's legacy and possible consequences loom large. The outcomes of these cases will undoubtedly shape the former president's future trajectory and political standing.