Ohio Supreme Court Justice Denies Recusal Request

The Noumea Attorney General has denied a request to transfer proceedings against members of the field action coordination unit (CCAT), who are accused of instigating riots in New Caledonia. Lawyers for the defendants argued that bias from local magistrates compromised judicial independence, but the Attorney General refuted these claims, emphasizing the need to assess whether CCAT operates as a criminal organization. In Ohio, Supreme Court Justice Jennifer Brunner has rejected calls to recuse herself from a case involving the Ohio Ballot Board, despite an ongoing lawsuit against its chair, Secretary of State Frank LaRose. The Ohio Supreme Court is currently reviewing a lawsuit challenging the ballot language for a proposed amendment aimed at ending gerrymandering, with accusations that it is confusing and misleading. Tensions have risen as the Ballot Board's Republican majority adopted a controversial description of the amendment, prompting legal action from its proponents. The case highlights ongoing concerns regarding political influence in judicial proceedings in both New Caledonia and Ohio.