The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a motion requesting that a federal judge recuse herself from a case involving Georgia election records, citing concerns over potential bias. The motion argues that the judge attended an event honoring Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who prosecuted former President Donald Trump, raising questions about the judge’s impartiality.
Allegations Against the Judge
The DOJ’s motion references a broader judicial discipline case involving an unnamed judge in the 11th Judicial Circuit, which covers Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. According to court investigations, the judge received a private reprimand after it was found she engaged in sexual activity with a high-ranking uniformed police officer within the courthouse, attended a partisan political event, and initially denied the allegations.
While the disciplinary report did not publicly name the judge or the exact court, media reports have identified U.S. District Judge Eleanor Ross in Atlanta as the likely subject. The Associated Press has not independently confirmed this identification. When contacted, Ross’ chambers declined to comment, referring inquiries to the court’s media office.
Judicial Background
Federal judges are appointed for life but can face disciplinary actions, including censure, reprimands, or temporary withholding of cases. Removal from the bench is only possible through impeachment by Congress.
Ross was nominated in January 2014 by President Barack Obama, confirmed by the Senate in November 2014, and previously served as a state court judge in DeKalb County, Georgia. Before taking the bench, she spent over a decade as a state and federal prosecutor, mostly in Atlanta.
The Georgia Election Records Case
Ross is overseeing the DOJ’s case against Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, which seeks statewide voter lists. Raffensperger has argued that Georgia law limits disclosure of voter information, and that the federal government did not meet the necessary legal conditions. He confirmed that the public portion of the voter roll was sent to the DOJ in December 2025.
Ross had scheduled a hearing in the case for Wednesday, though the DOJ requested a delay pending its recusal motion.
Judicial Discipline Findings
In the private reprimand issued in February, the Judicial Council of the 11th Circuit concluded that the judge had improperly attended a partisan event hosted by a district attorney’s campaign. Although the judge claimed she attended a private mixer with former colleagues separate from the party, the investigative committee determined that the mixer was part of the larger political event and should have been avoided.
Ross previously worked in the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office, overlapping with Willis before she became DA. The disciplinary committee’s report also referenced the sexual misconduct allegations but stated they are not the subject of the DOJ recusal motion.
Context: Fani Willis and the 2020 Election Case
Willis began investigating Trump and associates for possible interference in the 2020 Georgia election shortly after taking office in January 2021. Among her actions was examining Trump’s January 2021 phone call with Raffensperger, in which Trump urged him to “find” votes to overturn Democrat Joe Biden’s victory in Georgia.
In August 2023, Willis obtained an indictment against Trump and 18 others, accusing them of participating in a scheme to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election results. That case was dismissed in November after an appeals court found an appearance of impropriety linked to Willis’ personal relationship with a lawyer she had hired for the prosecution.
DOJ Arguments for Recusal
The DOJ argued in its filing:
“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 filing emphasizes that any objective reasonable observer could perceive the judge’s presence at Willis’ event as an endorsement of the DA and her actions, creating an appearance of bias. The motion notes the sexual misconduct allegations but clarifies they are not the focus of the recusal request.
Separately, the Atlanta Police Department confirmed it is investigating whether the high-ranking officer involved in the courthouse incident is a member of their department.
Summary Table of Key Details
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Case | DOJ v. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger |
| Judge in Question | Likely U.S. District Judge Eleanor Ross (Atlanta) |
| Allegations | Attended partisan event honoring DA Fani Willis; sexual activity in courthouse; initial false statements |
| DOJ Motion | Requests recusal due to potential appearance of bias |
| Election Context | 2020 Georgia election, investigation and indictment by Fani Willis |
| Previous Discipline | Private reprimand issued by 11th Circuit Judicial Council |
| Judge Background | Appointed 2014 by Obama, former state/federal prosecutor in Atlanta |
| Hearing | Scheduled for Wednesday; DOJ requested delay |
The DOJ’s motion highlights the tension between judicial impartiality and previous conduct that could create an appearance of bias. If the recusal is granted, it would ensure that the Georgia election records case is handled without concerns about partiality related to Trump, Fani Willis, or prior political events. The situation also underscores broader questions about federal judicial discipline, transparency, and accountability in politically sensitive cases.
