Fani Willis violated open records law, judge finds
Fulton County, Ga., District Attorney Fani Willis was found to be in violation of the state’s Open Records Act as outlined in a judge’s Friday ruling ordering her to present requested documents and pay more than $54,000 in legal fees.
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Rachel Krause determined that Willis’s failure to comply with the law “were intentional, not done in good faith, and were substantially groundless and vexatious.”
Willis was accused of preventing attorney Ashleigh Merchant from acquiring files pertinent to her client, Michael Roman, one of the 18 people indicted with President Trump for alleged election interference.
Krause’s ruling comes more than a year after Merchant filed a lawsuit seeking punitive damages.
Willis is now being asked to turn over all records requested by Merchant and pay her $54,000 within 30 days of Friday’s order.
Her office said they would appeal the ruling, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The Fulton County District Attorney’s Office did not immediately respond to The Hill’s requests for comment.
However, Merchant openly celebrated Friday's ruling.
“Proud that we have judges willing to hold people in power accountable when they ignore the law!!!! #faniwillis #openrecords #fultoncounty,” she wrote in a Friday post on the social platform X.
Willis was reelected to serve as the Fulton County district attorney in November but was barred from pursuing the election subversion case against President Trump and several allies in January based on the appearance of impropriety.
She challenged the ruling with the Georgia Supreme Court and is still awaiting an answer regarding her ability to prosecute Trump and others in criminal proceedings.
The president’s lawyers argued a review from the high court is not a right and should only be granted “in cases of great concern, gravity, or importance to the public,” according to court filings.
They cited the majority opinion from the state’s court of appeals which disqualified Willis, alleging the appearance of impropriety was “significant” and an “odor of mendacity” stands.
Topics
-
DOGE likely subject to open records law, judge rules
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is likely covered under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), a federal judge ruled late Monday, rejecting the Trump administration’s position that ...The Hill - Mar. 11 -
Judge orders hearing over Trump deportations under Alien Enemies Act despite court ruling
A federal judge has scheduled a hearing for Monday afternoon on whether the Trump administration violated a court order against using a law passed in 1798 to deport hundreds of undocumented ...CBS News - 1d -
Elon Musk’s Role in Dismantling USAID Likely Violated Constitution, Judge Finds
It appears to be the first time a federal judge has acted to constrain Elon Musk, a top adviser to President Trump. The judge also ordered agency functions be partially restored, though that relief ...The New York Times - 38m -
US judge rules Prince Harry immigration records be made public
Five years after moving to the United States, Prince Harry’s private immigration records could be made public after a judge ordered them to be released amid allegations he may have lied on his visa ...NBC News - 10h -
Judge rules against Musk and ‘Doge’, finding USAid shutdown ‘likely violated’ constitution – US politics live
Federal judge orders halt on any work to shut down USAid and tells Musk’s so-called Department for government efficiency to reinstate workers’ email access. Donald Trump has called for the ...The Guardian - 1h -
Federal judge orders Doge to release internal records for transparency
Musk said social media posts were sufficient documentation for agency that is changing face of government. US politics live – latest updates A federal judge has ruled that Elon Mus k’s ...The Guardian - Mar. 11 -
U.S.A.I.D. Official Orders Employees to Shred or Burn Classified and Personnel Records
Union representatives demanded that the aid agency follow the law stated in the Federal Records Act. Defense lawyers argued that officials had not destroyed personnel records and would not destroy ...The New York Times - 6d -
Trump administration says handling of USAID documents 'did not violate' federal laws
A USAID directive to destroy classified documents had been "seriously misapprehended," Trump administration attorneys wrote in a court filing Wednesday.ABC News - 5d -
Prince Harry immigration records must be made public, U.S. federal judge rules
A federal judge ordered the release Prince Harry's immigration records, which could reveal if he disclosed prior drug use before coming to America.NBC News - 1d
More from The Hill
-
Democrat on Trump-Putin call: 'Russia remains the obstacle to peace'
Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) said it's clear that Russia "remains the obstacle to peace" following a highly anticipated phone call between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on ...The Hill - 40m -
Trump, Putin agree on limited ceasefire in Ukraine
PRESIDENT TRUMP and Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared to make progress on a limited ceasefire agreement in Ukraine during a lengthy phone call on Tuesday that the White House says is the ...The Hill - 43m -
Kentucky lawmakers pass legislation removing conversion therapy restrictions
Kentucky lawmakers passed a measure Friday seeking to protect the controversial practice known as conversion therapy for LGBTQ youth, repealing an executive order from Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear ...The Hill - 1h -
Democrats ask Trump to remove Patel as acting ATF director
A group of Democrats are calling on President Trump to remove FBI Director Kash Patel as the acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Fourteen Democratic ...The Hill - 1h -
Democrats push back on plans to use military installations as migrant detention centers
Democratic lawmakers are pushing back against Trump administration plans to detain thousands of immigrants living in the country illegally at U.S. military sites. In a letter signed by nine ...The Hill - 1h
More in Politics
-
Democrat on Trump-Putin call: 'Russia remains the obstacle to peace'
Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) said it's clear that Russia "remains the obstacle to peace" following a highly anticipated phone call between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on ...The Hill - 40m -
Trump, Putin agree on limited ceasefire in Ukraine
PRESIDENT TRUMP and Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared to make progress on a limited ceasefire agreement in Ukraine during a lengthy phone call on Tuesday that the White House says is the ...The Hill - 43m -
Kornacki: White men, white women and the gap within the gender gap
NBC News National Political Correspondent Steve Kornacki digs into a NBC News poll that shows divisions along race and gender lines in how the American electorate views DEI initiatives and more.NBC News - 50m -
Kentucky lawmakers pass legislation removing conversion therapy restrictions
Kentucky lawmakers passed a measure Friday seeking to protect the controversial practice known as conversion therapy for LGBTQ youth, repealing an executive order from Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear ...The Hill - 1h -
Trump must understand Putin ‘respects strength’ during talks over Ukraine war: Fmr. Amb. to Russia
Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul discusses the call between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin and what talks could mean for the end of the war in Ukraine.NBC News - 1h