The Department of Justice (DOJ) has asked U.S. District Judge Eleanor Ross to recuse herself from a pending election-integrity case in Georgia, citing reports that she attended a victory party for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis in May 2024. The DOJ argues that Ross’s attendance creates an appearance of bias, as Willis is prosecuting President Donald Trump for alleged election interference. The DOJ’s motion, filed in U.S. District Court in Atlanta, references a disciplinary action by the Eleventh Circuit’s Judicial Council, which found that a judge—identified in media reports as Ross—committed misconduct by attending a partisan event. Ross, appointed by President Barack Obama in 2014, has not publicly confirmed her involvement in the disciplinary case. The DOJ is suing Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger over his refusal to release election records as part of a federal probe into election law compliance.
Background on Disciplinary Action
The Eleventh Circuit’s Judicial Council found that the unidentified judge attended a partisan event, which the DOJ argues undermines impartiality in the election case. The council’s findings did not specify whether Ross was the judge in question, but media reports have linked her to the incident. Ross’s clerks confirmed that she did not respond to inquiries about her involvement.
Additional Allegations
Separate reports allege that Ross engaged in a years-long extramarital affair with Atlanta Deputy Police Chief Kelley Collier in her chambers, which was reportedly overheard by staff. The Eleventh Circuit Judicial Council issued a private reprimand, but critics argue the discipline was insufficient. The Atlanta Police Department has cases pending before Ross’s court, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
Legal and Political Implications
The DOJ’s motion argues that Ross’s attendance at Willis’s event—combined with her disciplinary history—compromises her ability to preside over the election case impartially. Legal experts note that recusal motions are common in high-profile cases to avoid perceptions of bias. The case involves Georgia’s election records, which the DOJ seeks to review for compliance with federal law. Critics of Ross’s conduct have called for her resignation or impeachment, while supporters argue that the disciplinary action was appropriate.