Judge Says Fani Willis Violated Open Records Law, Orders Her To Pay 54k In Attorneys' Fees

A judge has ordered Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to pay more than 54,000 in attorneys' fees and to turn over documents after finding that her office violated Georgia's Open Records Act.

Attorney Ashleigh Merchant represents former Trump campaign staffer Michael Roman, one of the 18 people indicted in August 2023 along with President Donald Trump on allegations that they illegally tried to overturn Trump's 2020 election loss in Georgia. Merchant sued in January 2024, alleging that the district attorney's office had failed to turn over public records she had requested.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Rachel Krause found that the failures to comply with the records law "were intentional, not done in good faith, and were substantially groundless and vexatious." Because Willis and her office "lacked substantial justification" for not complying, Merchant is entitled to attorneys' fees and litigation expenses totaling just over 54,000, Krause found.

Krause ordered Willis to search for and turn over all records responsive to Merchant's requests. The documents and payment are to be delivered within 30 days of Friday's order.

A spokesperson for Willis' office said Monday that they plan to appeal the order.