U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit Judge Ryan Nelson recused himself from a case concerning allegations that U.S. military aid to Israel’s operations in Gaza violated international laws against genocide. The decision followed scrutiny over a March trip to Israel, which Nelson undertook with 13 other federal judges. This journey, sponsored by the World Jewish Congress, included meetings with Israeli government and judicial officials.
Palestinian human rights groups questioned Nelson’s impartiality, suggesting that the tour was intended to influence U.S. judicial opinions on the legality of Israeli military actions in Gaza. In response to these concerns, Judge Nelson stated that “out of an abundance of caution, the best course in this specific case (which may not apply in other cases) is to recuse.” Further details and documentation related to the recusal motion can be found here.
The official announcement and context around Judge Nelson’s decision were reported on by the National Law Journal, available here.