The Department of Justice has asked an Obama-appointed federal judge, embroiled in judicial misconduct, to recuse herself from its election records lawsuit against Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.The request for recusal on Friday pertains to U.S. District Judge Eleanor Ross and her alleged improper appearance at an event honoring Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who once prosecuted President Donald Trump for alleged interference in the 2020 election. While the court did not publicly announce which judge appeared at Fani Willis’ rally in its initial report, the DOJ believes the judge is Ross based on news reports.The 11th Judicial Circuit determined Ross engaged in judicial misconduct by attending the partisan event promoting Willis’s 2024 campaign. The district attorney won her reelection bid that year.
“This reported misconduct necessitates Judge Ross’s recusal because, if Judge Ross is indeed the Subject Judge, it creates the appearance of bias,” the DOJ said in the court filing signed by Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon.
“A judge who attended a party celebrating the election of a Democrat best known for prosecuting a Republican President for alleged election interference cannot then preside over a case concerning that President’s efforts to ensure election integrity,” the Justice Department’s memo continued.
