Georgia Judge Orders Fulton County DA turn Over Documents

A Georgia judge has ordered Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to turn over key documents related to her communications with Special Counsel Jack Smith. The ruling comes after Willis initially denied possessing such records, only to later admit their existence under legal pressure.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert C.I. McBurney issued the order in response to a lawsuit from watchdog group Judicial Watch, which sought transparency regarding potential coordination between Willis and Smith. The request covered all communications between Willis’s office, Smith’s federal prosecutors, and the House January 6th Committee.

Willis had previously asserted that no relevant records existed. That claim was maintained until Judicial Watch secured a default judgment against her office, revealing the existence of 212 pages of documents.

Judge McBurney’s order mandates that Willis submit these records to the court for review, rejecting her argument that they are protected under attorney-client privilege and investigative exemptions. She has five business days to comply and must submit a sworn affidavit detailing how her office conducted its search. The affidavit must specify what was searched, who conducted the search, and whether personal or government-issued cell phones were included in the review.

While McBurney did not appoint a special master to oversee the review, he left open the possibility should further inconsistencies arise. If Willis is found to have improperly withheld records, she will need to justify each exemption through a sealed filing.

The ruling marks another legal and political setback for Willis. In December, the Georgia Court of Appeals disqualified her from prosecuting former President Donald Trump, citing her personal relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade. While the court found no financial misconduct, it determined that the relationship created an appearance of impropriety, warranting a new prosecutor and likely delaying the case as Trump resumed office.

In response to prosecutorial concerns, the Georgia Senate passed a bill on March 6 allowing defendants to seek reimbursement for legal fees if a prosecutor is disqualified for misconduct and the case is dismissed.

Willis has also faced scrutiny over her handling of the Young Slime Life (YSL) gang trial. The case, the longest in Georgia’s history, ended in December 2024 with the acquittal of the final defendants on gang and murder charges.

Separately, a Georgia state Senate committee that had been investigating Willis is now shifting its focus to Stacey Abrams. The committee plans to examine ethics findings related to Abrams’ 2018 gubernatorial campaign and her involvement with certain organizations.