Elon Musk’s ongoing legal dispute with Media Matters for America (MMFA) has sparked debate over whether judges owning Tesla stock should oversee cases involving the tech billionaire.
In a recent court filing, MMFA’s legal team argued that Tesla’s financial interests could be affected by the case outcome, raising potential bias. The watchdog highlighted that Judge Reed O’Connor, assigned to the case, may own Tesla stock.
While it is not yet confirmed if Judge O’Connor currently holds Tesla shares, MMFA emphasized that the clear association between Musk and Tesla could lead a reasonable observer to question impartiality. They argue that Tesla should be classified as an interested party to clarify any potential conflict.
Conversely, X Corp, in a filed opposition, dismissed MMFA’s motion as “meritless” and accused the watchdog of attempting to disqualify Judge O’Connor for favorable decisions. X Corp maintained that such recusal policies could unfavorably impact judicial proceedings.
Previous cases involving Musk have seen judges recuse themselves without explicit reasons, fueling debates over impartiality in Musk-related litigation.
MMFA’s motion seeks to have Tesla acknowledged as an interested party under Texas law, which could prompt recusal if a financial conflict is confirmed. A ruling on the motion is anticipated in the coming weeks.
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