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Special Counsel Jack Smith has requested a federal appeals court reverse a judge’s decision to dismiss the criminal case against former President Donald Trump.

Let’s bring you up to speed: Last year, Trump faced federal charges for allegedly retaining classified documents at Mar-a-Lago after leaving the White House in January 2021. A federal grand jury accused him of mishandling these documents and obstructing the government’s efforts to retrieve them. However, in mid-July, US District Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the case, ruling that Special Counsel Jack Smith’s appointment violated the US Constitution.

What’s happening now: In response to the case being dismissed, Special Counsel Jack Smith is challenging the ruling and has asked the US Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit to intervene. Smith argues that Judge Cannon’s decision was legally flawed and “misconstrued” the laws governing special counsel appointments. He is pushing for the appeals court to reverse the decision.

Some more info on the judge: Judge Aileen Cannon, who dismissed the criminal case against former President Donald Trump, was appointed by Trump in 2020 during his final year in office. Before her appointment, she was a federal prosecutor.

What Trump argues: Trump has repeatedly claimed that Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation is politically motivated, claiming that the charges against him are part of a broader effort by his political opponents to undermine his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election.