Jack Smith's Appeal and the Challenge of Judge Cannon

Jack Smith has filed an appeal with the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse Judge Aileen Cannon's ruling in favor of the former president.

While the appeal has a decent chance of success, it won't solve the challenge posed by Judge Cannon herself, a Trump appointee who has ruled in favor of the former president and has been criticized for her handling of the Mar-a-Lago search warrant case.

Cannon cited Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas' reasoning in a Trump immunity case, making it difficult to remove her from the case. If Trump wins the presidency in November, he could eliminate the case entirely.

Even if Smith succeeds in his appeal, the case will remain on unsteady ground as long as Cannon presides, with potential for mischief during the trial itself. In a similar case, Special Counsel Jack Smith is urging the appeals court to reinstate the classified documents case against Trump, arguing that Judge Cannon's ruling contradicts precedent and conflicts with Supreme Court decisions.

Smith's appointment is being challenged, and the case remains uncertain, even if the appeal is successful.