Mark Meadows’ rejected bid to move his Georgia racketeering case to federal court could throw a wrench in potential plans to do so for the case’s 18 other defendants, including former President Trump.
Why it matters: The former White House chief of staff had the strongest of the bids to transfer his case so far, but doing so would would require meeting a narrow provision that the case has a federal connection.
Driving the news: In arguing to transfer his case, Meadows claimed that he was acting in his capacity as chief of staff — which Jones rebuked.
Of note: Meadow’s and Trump’s cases are distinct from each other, which could mean the courts approach removal to federal court differently, said Aziz Huq, a constitutional law professor at the University of Chicago.
Here’s how the case would differ in state versus federal court
A trial in Georgia is more public
If held in Georgia state court, all court proceedings will be televised and viewable by the public, McAfee ruled in August.
Fulton County could produce a more liberal jury pool than federal court
The jury pool would be from the Atlanta area, which is Democratic leaning.
Potential jury would be selected by lawyers, rather than the judge
In Georgia state court, lawyers would question the prospective jurors to help determine the jury.
In federal court, the judge oversees jury selection.
