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The order prevents the sprawling case against Trump and 14
co-defendants from moving toward trial while Trump appeals a
judge's ruling allowing Willis, the Fulton County district
attorney, to remain on the case.
It is another indication that the case, one of four facing Trump
as he seeks to unseat President Joe Biden and return to the
White House, will not go to trial before the Nov. 5 election.
A New York jury last week found Trump guilty of trying to cover
up a hush money payment to a porn star, a verdict that Trump has
vowed to appeal. The two federal cases against him, for trying
to overturn his defeat and mishandling classified documents
after leaving office, have also been bogged down by legal
challenges.
In the Georgia case, Trump and eight co-defendants are seeking
to disqualify Willis' office over allegations that a romantic
relationship with a former top deputy posed a conflict of
interest.
Prosecutors have also signaled they will appeal a prior ruling
that tossed out some criminal counts in the indictment.
Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee, who is overseeing the case,
previously signaled he would address some pre-trial legal issues
during the appeal, but Wednesday's order prevents him from
taking any action.
The appeal is likely to take several months to resolve. The
court earlier this week scheduled oral argument in October.
Trump and the 14 co-defendants have pleaded not guilty to
racketeering and other charges stemming from what prosecutors
allege was a scheme to overturn Trump's narrow defeat in Georgia
in the 2020 election.
(Reporting by Andrew Goudsward; editing by Scott Malone)
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