U.S. District Judge Eleanor Ross has recused herself from a federal case involving Georgia election records after the Justice Department raised concerns about her impartiality. Multiple outlets report that the Department sought to remove Ross from the proceeding, citing her reported attendance at an event connected to Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who has been involved in prosecutions related to President Donald Trump.
The recusal follows prior disciplinary action involving Ross. The Guardian and other reports describe that she was disciplined after an investigation found she had a sexual relationship with a police officer in her chambers and that she later lied when confronted with the allegations. Ross’s new recusal order states she is stepping aside out of “an abundance of caution for the potential perception of bias,” tying the decision to the Justice Department’s concerns in the Georgia election records matter.
The case now proceeds without Ross, with the next steps depending on reassignment to another judge. The reported basis for the recusal centers on questions about possible perceived bias stemming from the event linked to Willis, as raised by the Justice Department.
