Former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows has withdrawn his motion for an emergency stay in proceedings against him in Fulton County Superior Court.

Meadows is one of 19 defendants – including former President Donald Trump – charged with conspiring to overturn the 2020 presidential election. He has sought to have his case removed to federal court. But last Friday U.S. District Judge Steve Jones rejected his request.

Meadows appealed Jones’ decision to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. And he asked the court to stay proceedings against him in Fulton County Superior Court until his appeal is resolved.

But on Thursday Meadows withdrew his emergency motion to stay the Fulton proceedings. He cited the 11th Circuit’s decision to expedite his appeal of Jones’ ruling. The appeals court ordered Meadows and Fulton County prosecutors to file briefs on his appeal over the next two weeks.

Additionally, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee on Thursday ruled that Meadows and 16 of his co-defendants would not be tried on Oct. 23. Only the cases against lawyers Kenneth Chesebro and Sidney Powell, who demanded speedy trials, will begin then.

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Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis speaks at a press conference at Fulton County Government Center in Atlanta on Monday, Aug. 14, 2023, following the indictment in an election interference case against former President Donald Trump and others. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

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Julian Conley listens during opening statements in his trial at Fulton County Superior Court in Atlanta on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. The 25-year-old is accused of fatally shooting 8-year-old Secoriea Turner in July 2020. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

Credit: abbey.cutrer@ajc.com