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Disney sued DeSantis in late April, asking a
court to overturn state efforts to control the Disney World
theme park, intensifying a battle between the global
entertainment giant and the governor, who is now seeking the
Republican presidential nomination.
U.S. District Judge Mark Walker wrote that the relative's
financial interest, 30 shares of Disney stock, could be affected
by the outcome of the proceeding.
"Even though I believe it is unlikely that these proceedings
will have a substantial effect on the Walt Disney Company, I
choose to err on the side of caution -- which here, is also the
side of judicial integrity -- and disqualify myself," Walker
wrote.
Walker denied DeSantis' motion that he disqualify himself
because of questions about his impartiality. Walker said the
motion lacked merit and that it amounted to "nothing more than
rank judge-shopping."
The judge, who was appointed by former Democratic President
Barack Obama, has struck down several laws that defined DeSantis'
conservative political agenda, including statutes that sought to
limit the speech of college professors, curtailed protests and
restricted voting access.
In its lawsuit, Disney accused DeSantis and his supporters of
illegally using the state government to punish a company for
voicing an opinion that should be protected by free-speech
rights.
DeSantis has argued that Disney, which employs roughly 75,000
people in Florida, had been enjoying unfair advantages for
decades.
(Reporting by Dawn Chmielewski; Editing by Jacqueline Wong,
Gerry Doyleand Leslie Adler)
(Photo: A screen shows the logo and a ticker symbol for The Walt
Disney Company on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange
(NYSE) in New York, U.S., December 14, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan
McDermid)
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