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As AG's wife, judge won't recuse herself in Backpage case

Posted at 3:30 PM, Oct 26, 2020
and last updated 2020-10-26 18:30:58-04

PHOENIX (AP) — A federal judge married to Arizona's attorney general says she will not recuse herself from a criminal case against the former executives of Backpage.com, who are accused of using their classified section for soliciting prostitution.

Judge Susan Brnovich stated in a ruling filed late last week that her marriage to Attorney General Mark Brnovich, who's made critical statements about sex trafficking and Backpage, won't affect her ability to be objective.

In September, attorneys for Backpage's founders criticized statements made in a human trafficking booklet published by the attorney general's office.

Judge Brnovich says their filing came a year and a half after she inherited the case.