The Department of Justice has formally requested that federal Judge Eleanor Ross recuse herself from an ongoing legal battle regarding Georgia election records. The motion, filed in the U.S. District Court in Atlanta, argues that Ross’s potential involvement in recent disciplinary proceedings creates an appearance of bias that could compromise the integrity of the proceedings.

Central to the DOJ’s argument are reports identifying Ross as the judge disciplined by the Eleventh Circuit’s Judicial Council for attending a partisan political event. Specifically, the motion points to a May 2024 victory celebration for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. The DOJ contends that a judge who participated in a celebration for a prosecutor known for the high-profile prosecution of Donald Trump cannot objectively oversee a case involving election-related matters.

The disciplinary investigation into the ‘Subject Judge’ also uncovered other instances of misconduct, including inappropriate behavior in judicial chambers and the consumption of alcohol at a political function. While the DOJ has not independently confirmed Ross’s identity as the disciplined official, they maintain that any reasonable observer would view her continued presence on the case as a conflict of interest.

The underlying litigation involves a lawsuit against Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. The Justice Department is seeking access to election records to ensure the state is adhering to federal election laws. The outcome of this case remains critical to the ongoing scrutiny of Georgia’s electoral processes.