US government's Apple antitrust suit gets new judge after recusal
Source: Reuters
April 10, 2024 2:53 PM EDT Updated 3 hours ago
April 10 (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department's blockbuster case accusing Apple (AAPL.O) of unlawfully monopolizing the smartphone market was reassigned to U.S. District Judge Julien Neals in New Jersey on Wednesday after another judge said he could not hear it due to a potential conflict of interest.
U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiarz, who had been assigned to handle it, in a brief order said he was required to recuse from the case based on a judicial ethics rule that can restrict judges from hearing disputes in which they or a family member have some close connection or financial tie. The order said his recusal was mandatory, but Farbiarz did not state the precise reason for his disqualification. Farbiarz did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Farbiarz and Neals were both appointed to the bench by Democratic U.S. President Joe Biden. Neals has served since 2021 and formerly worked as a New Jersey county government lawyer. Farbiarz has served since last year, leaving his position as general counsel to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Farbiarz's recusal order appeared to come without any request from Apple or the Justice Department. The government declined to comment on Wednesday. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Justice Department, along with 15 U.S. states, sued Apple in March, accusing the Cupertino, California-based tech giant of monopolizing the smartphone market through restrictions on app developers that curb choice and innovation, which it said forces consumers to pay higher prices.
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/legal/us-governments-apple-antitrust-suit-gets-new-judge-after-recusal-2024-04-10/
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