A Fulton County Superior Court judge has ruled that District Attorney Fani Willis must conduct a fresh and thorough search of her office’s records in connection with the criminal case against President Trump. The decision stems from concerns that her prior searches were incomplete and potentially inadequate.
The ruling responds to a persistent pursuit by Judicial Watch, a conservative watchdog group, seeking communications between Willis’s office, the January 6th Select Committee, and Special Counsel Jack Smith’s team. The court found Willis’s prior search insufficient and lacking in good faith. She has now been ordered to perform a new search and submit an affidavit explaining how records were located and why they were previously withheld.
This development comes amid a broader pattern of legal setbacks for Willis. In March 2025, she was found to have intentionally violated Georgia’s Open Records Act by refusing to comply with prior document requests. A judge ruled her office’s behavior “hostile” and “vexatious,” ordering her to pay more than $54,000 in legal fees and to turn over the requested documents within 30 days.
The court’s order now places Willis under strict obligations to comply with Georgia law and provide a detailed account of her office’s record-keeping practices. Failure to do so could expose her to further legal consequences and heighten concerns over prosecutorial misconduct.
