Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Rightfully Recuses Himself in Elections Procedures Manual Litigation Due to Juvenile Antics

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                         

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Rightfully Recuses Himself in Elections Procedures Manual Litigation Due to Juvenile Antics

PHOENIX, ARIZONA— A Maricopa County Superior Court judge voluntarily recused himself today in the case of Petersen v. Fontes, after denigrating social media posts from his brother revealed a potential for an unfair and biased trial, prompting the plaintiffs to file a motion to change judge for cause.

The plaintiffs argued judges should be impartial and free from any political bias. For that reason, Judge Timothy Ryan's recusal was the appropriate action to take. His brother, Tom Ryan, is a liberal attorney who plagues social media with his contempt for the Republican-controlled Arizona Legislature with an incessant number of juvenile posts. There is no way anyone who has witnessed the antics of Judge Ryan's brother, which included case-specific criticisms and commentary, can credibly believe that Judge Ryan could give the Legislature a fair trial.

###

For more information, contact:

Kim Quintero

Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus

kquintero@azleg.gov