The judge in charge of Disney’s lawsuit against DeSantis in Florida withdraws from the case

Washington, June 1 The judge in charge of the lawsuit that the entertainment giant The Walt Disney Company filed against the governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, for allegedly carrying out a campaign against the company for ideological reasons, withdrew from the case on Thursday.

The magistrate, Mark Walker, decided to recuse himself since a relative of his owns shares in Disney, according to various US media.

DeSantis’ own lawyers have previously called for the judge to be removed from the case, citing previous comments they say showed a lack of impartiality.

In his announcement Thursday, Walker wrote that the request by the governor’s lawyers is unfounded. The case will now be supervised by a judge who was appointed by former president Donald Trump (2017-2021), The Hill reports.

Last month, Disney expanded its lawsuit against DeSantis for considering itself the victim of a “punishment” campaign against its economic interests and constitutional rights by state authorities.

The company alleges DeSantis launched a retaliatory war in 2022 after it publicly criticized Florida’s controversial bill, known as “Don’t Say Gay” by critics, which limits discussion of the sexual orientation and identity of gender in school classrooms. EFE

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