A Maricopa County Superior Court judge recused himself from a voting procedures case on Wednesday after his brother called the defendants names on social media.
Judge Timothy Ryan was assigned a case where Senate President Warren Petersen (R-Gilbert) and House Speaker Ben Toma (R-Peoria) sued Secretary of State Adrian Fontes for presenting what they say is an illegal guide for election workers.
Petersen and Toma requested a new judge from the court last week because Ryan’s brother — attorney Tom Ryan — referred to them on the social platform X as “yahoos” and “chucklenuts.”
The lawmakers said they were concerned about getting an unfair, biased trial.
Last week, Tom Ryan said his brother doesn’t have social media and they never discussed the case.
“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,” Senate Republicans said in a statement following Judge Ryan’s recusal.
CODA: I forgot to add that Ben Toma and Warren Petersen were there for the shellacking too! Sheesh! With "friends of the court" like these two chucklenuts, who needs enemies. pic.twitter.com/UHnztt8df7
— Tom Ryan (@tomryanlaw) November 9, 2023
