The judge presiding over former President Donald Trump's racketeering trial in Georgia offered Mark Meadows and two other co-defendants delays to file pretrial motions as they attempt to have their cases moved to federal court.
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee announced that former White House chief of staff Meadows and two others could delay some of their pretrial motions from Jan. 8 to Feb. 5, according to a Monday evening order.
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McAfee signaled during a hearing on Dec. 1 that he would grant deadline extensions for defendants still seeking to move their case to federal court, which includes Meadows, former Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark, and former Chairman of the state Republican Party David Shafer.
The decision comes as Meadows is preparing to face a three-judge panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit on Friday over his bid to remove his case to federal court after a district court judge rejected that effort earlier this year.
Meadows is seeking to overturn a September ruling by U.S. District Judge Steve Jones that found the former chief of staff exceeded his role by working directly with Trump's campaign over the former president's bid to undo his loss to President Joe Biden in the Peach State.
Jones similarly denied an effort by Clark, a former assistant attorney general in the Trump administration, to move his case to federal court on Sept. 29. The judge held that Clark's role in drafting a letter that raised concerns about election fraud was not within "the gamut of his federal office." Shafer's effort was also rejected that day, along with efforts by former Coffee County GOP Chairwoman Cathy Latham and state Sen. Shawn Still.
Meadows and others who want to move their cases may see federal court as a better chance to receive a more favorable jury pool that is removed from the Democratic-leaning Fulton County. A transfer to federal court would also shield their cases from being televised because each Fulton County court proceeding is live-streamed.
Depending on the outcome for Meadows in the appeals court on Friday, the losing party could seek a review of Meadows's request by the full 11th Circuit or appeal to the Supreme Court.
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Trump was expected to seek removal of his case to federal court but ultimately decided to remain in McAfee's court.
The former president and 14 other defendants are on track for a trial to begin in August of next year, though McAfee has signaled he may split the defendants into two groups. Four defendants have already taken plea deals from prosecutors since the group was indicted in August earlier this year.