FL Judge Removes Himself In Lawsuit Between Disney, DeSantis

ORLANDO, FL — A Florida judge overseeing the lawsuit filed by Walt Disney Co. against Gov. Ron DeSantis has disqualified himself from the case, according to reports — but not because the state raised questions about his impartiality.

In court documents filed Thursday, Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker removed himself from the case because a relative owns 30 shares of Disney stock, according to The Associated Press. Walker described the person as "a third-degree relative," typically a cousin, a great-aunt or great-uncle, or a great-niece or great-nephew.

"Even though I believe it is highly 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 said in the court filing.

DeSantis' legal team filed a motion to disqualify Walker last month because he previously referenced the ongoing dispute between the governor's administration and Disney during hearings in two unrelated lawsuits before him dealing with free speech issues and fear of retaliation for violating new laws championed by the governor and Republican lawmakers.

Disney had opposed the governor's motion, saying the judge had shown no bias. Walker also called the governor's arguments "without merit."

The development is the latest in a months-long feud between Florida's governor, the Republican-controlled legislature and the entertainment giant.

In February, lawmakers passed legislation allowing the state to take control of Disney World's independent special taxing district known as the Reedy Creek, which gave Disney World the right to self-govern its 25,000-acre footprint in Orange and Osceola counties.

The legislation renamed the Reedy Creek Improvement District to the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District and gave DeSantis the power to select the five-person board.

The move by Florida lawmakers was primarily seen as retaliation for the entertainment giant publicly opposing Florida's Parental Rights in Education bill that bars instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in schools.

In March, board members appointed by DeSantis learned Disney's previous board passed a 30-year agreement and restrictive covenants that made new members powerless to manage Disney's future growth in Florida, the Orlando Sentinel first reported.

The board appointed by DeSantis later voted to nullify the agreement. Minutes later, Disney sued DeSantis, the five-member board, and other state officials in federal court, accusing DeSantis of orchestrating "every step" in a "targeted campaign of government retaliation."

Days later, the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District voted unanimously to countersue Disney and defend itself in federal court.

Since both lawsuits were filed, Florida lawmakers passed a proposal to nullify the controversial development agreement between Disney and the company's previous board.

On May 18, Disney announced it had pulled the plug on the construction of an office complex n Orlando amid the company's ongoing feud with DeSantis, according to reports.

The project, known as Lake Nona Town Center, was estimated to cost close to $1.3 billion, according to a New York Times report. Disney planned to relocate as many as 2,000 employees to Florida from southern California as part of the project.

In a memo sent to employees, Disney cited "new leadership" and "changing business conditions" as reasons behind the decision, The Associated Press reported.

"Given the considerable changes that have occurred since the announcement of this project, ...we have decided not to move forward with construction of the campus," Josh D'Amaro, chairman of Walt Disney Parks, said in the memo.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.