Monday, January 04, 2021

Truest statement of the week

So Gardner is ruling on an issue closely associated with her sister and originally ruled in favor of the group which lists her sister’s organization as its largest contributor.  At a minimum, that creates an appearance of a conflict.  I can understand Judge Gardner’s view that there is no real conflict. These two very successful women continue to work in the same state. Judge Gardner may have been concerned that a recusal would encourage endless such challenges over tangential links to her sister’s work.  Yet, she could have recused while stressing that this is a unique time and a unique set of circumstances. A recusal could have been simply a recognition of the court that her familial tie could undermine confidence in the review.

 

-- Jonathan Turley, "No Recusal But Now A Reversal? Federal Judge and Sister Of [Stacey] Abrams Changes Order On Georgia Ballots" (JONATHANTURLEY.ORG).