ATLANTA — Editor's note: The video above is from a previous report.
A major deadline to file pretrial motions in the Fulton County election interference case has now passed for all defendants. Now, the only pretrial filings still allowed by the court are motions in limine, which pertain to evidentiary questions.
Most defendants had to file by Jan. 8. However, State Senator Shawn Still was granted an extension until April 18, according to a scheduling order signed by Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee.
Still's extension came as a result of state law.
"As a current member of the General Assembly, the defendant is automatically entitled to a continuance," McAfee wrote in his order.
Georgia code -- O.C.G.A. 17-8-26(a) to be exact -- gives state lawmakers the right to obtain "continuances" in a case while they're engaged in their legislative duties:
"Unless a shorter length of time is requested by the member, the continuance and stay shall last for the seven days prior to the regular or extraordinary session of the General Assembly; the length of any regular or extraordinary session of the General Assembly; during the first three weeks following any recess or adjournment, including an adjournment sine die of any regular or extraordinary session; and the entirety of any day during the calendar year on which a legislative committee for which the member serves or is staff holds a scheduled a meeting," declares."
Still filed six motions before Thursday's deadline, including several challenging the validity of charges he faces.
So far, no trial date has been set in the case. Still was named as one of the many co-defendants indicted with former President Donald Trump last August. They were accused of trying to overturn Trump's loss in Georgia in 2020. Four people have taken plea deals in the case.