U.S. District Judge Eleanor Ross has recused herself from a high-profile Georgia election case after the Trump administration’s Justice Department sought her removal over concerns about impartiality.
In a brief order filed Monday, Ross said she was stepping aside “in the interest of justice” and returned the case for reassignment through the Northern District of Georgia’s standard selection process.
The Justice Department argued Ross should not oversee the case because of prior professional ties and her attendance at a political event linked to Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, claiming those circumstances created the appearance of bias.
The request came as Ross faced scrutiny stemming from a judicial misconduct investigation that resulted in a private reprimand. The investigation found that Ross had engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a police officer and attended a political event connected to Willis.
Because Ross voluntarily recused herself, the court did not rule on whether she was legally required to step aside.
The underlying lawsuit involves disputes over Georgia election procedures and voter records. The case will now be assigned to a new judge, a move expected to delay proceedings as the replacement reviews the extensive case record.
Supporters of the administration praised the recusal as a step toward ensuring impartiality, while critics argued the government may be using ethics challenges to influence judicial assignments.
