Judge Orders Fani Willis to Pay $54K for Violating Georgia Open Records Law
ATLANTA — Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has been ordered to pay more than $54,000 in attorney’s fees after a Georgia judge ruled her office violated the state’s Open Records Act, marking another significant legal setback for the embattled prosecutor.
The ruling stems from a request filed by defense attorney Ashleigh Merchant, who represents Michael Roman, a former Trump aide indicted in Georgia’s election interference case. Merchant accused Willis’ office of deliberately withholding public records, particularly those related to the hiring and compensation of Nathan Wade, the former special prosecutor with whom Willis allegedly had a personal relationship.
According to the court’s findings, Willis’ office responded to Merchant’s requests with “open hostility” and treated them “differently than other requests,” reflecting what the judge described as a “lack of good faith.” The court ordered the district attorney’s office to produce the requested records within 30 days and to pay $54,264 in legal fees—reflecting roughly 80 hours of Merchant’s work.
This decision adds to mounting scrutiny of Willis, who was previously disqualified from prosecuting the high-profile case against former President Donald Trump and several co-defendants due to concerns over her past relationship with Wade. Wade resigned from the case in October amid growing controversy. Willis has since appealed her removal to the Georgia Supreme Court, arguing it was based solely on the appearance of impropriety, not proven misconduct.
Merchant’s records request focused on public funds and contracts linked to Wade’s role in the investigation. The court determined Willis’ office failed to respond transparently or in a timely manner, violating state law designed to ensure government accountability.
In a separate development, the Georgia Senate passed legislation in March that could allow defendants—including Trump—to seek reimbursement for legal fees if charges are dismissed due to prosecutorial misconduct. The bill, passed unanimously, was a direct response to concerns about overreach and lack of transparency in politically sensitive prosecutions.
While the judge’s ruling does not directly impact the ongoing indictments, it bars Willis and her team from further involvement in the case. A new prosecution team will now need to take over.
This isn’t the first time Willis has faced legal trouble over transparency. In another open records lawsuit filed last year—also by Merchant—a judge declined to dismiss the case entirely, although Willis was exempted from being named personally. That suit also revolved around alleged efforts to conceal how public funds were used in her office’s media dealings.
Following Friday’s ruling, Merchant posted on social media:
“Proud that we have judges willing to hold people in power accountable when they ignore the law!”
As the political and legal spotlight intensifies, questions surrounding accountability, public trust, and the integrity of high-profile investigations continue to dominate public discourse in Georgia and beyond.