• A three-judge panel of the Georgia Court of Appeals on Wednesday announced it would hear former Pres. Donald Trump’s appeal of a lower court’s ruling allowing Fulton County District Attorney Fani T. Willis to continue leading the prosecution in the case involving Trump’s alleged election interference. New York Times (LR: 2 CP: 5)
• Trump’s attorneys previously sought to disqualify Willis from the case over a romantic relationship she had with Nathan J. Wade, a lawyer she hired to handle the prosecution of the presumptive Republican presidential nominee. New York Times (LR: 2 CP: 5)
• Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee in March ruled Willis could remain on the case as long as she removed Wade from it. Wade resigned a few hours later. USA Today (LR: 3 CP: 5)
• With McAfee’s decision under review — and others facing a potential challenge by the defense — it’s unlikely prosecutors will get their wish of an August trial start date, and it’s more likely the case won’t be heard until after the 2024 presidential election. AJC
• Trump and 18 others last August were named in a racketeering indictment for alleged efforts to overturn the presidential election results in Georgia. Trump has pleaded not guilty. ABC News
• This ruling comes while Trump is in the midst of his New York trial for allegedly falsifying business documents. He also faces federal charges for allegedly attempting to stop the transfer of presidential power after the 2020 election, and separately for potentially mishandling classified documents after he left office. CBS (LR: 2 CP: 5)

Pro-Trump narrative:

• This appeal being heard will lead to a delay that’s a victory in itself for Trump. But the former president should ultimately prevail based on the preponderance of evidence that Willis — who should’ve been removed from this case immediately after her relationship with Wade was revealed — lied about her relationship and its impact on prosecuting this case.
  PJ MEDIA (LR: 4 CP: 4)

Anti-Trump narrative:

• The delay is indeed a victory for Trump, but it’s not a victory for the country or the justice system. While the former president continues to duck accountability for his criminal actions, conservative-leaning judges and courts are doing his bidding by pushing the proceedings past Election Day and to a time when a victorious Trump can better avoid facing the music.
  HUFFINGTON POST (LR: 1 CP: 4)

Nerd narrative:

• There’s a 25% chance that Trump will be jailed or incarcerated before Jan. 1, 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
  METACULUS (LR: 3 CP: 3)