Gov. Kemp And Mayor Bottoms Hearing Canceled Twice, Judges Recuse

ATLANTA, GA —Just hours after Fulton County Superior Court Judge Kelly Ellerbe recused herself from a case between Gov. Brian Kemp and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, a second judge followed.

Judge Shawn Ellen LaGrua recused herself Tuesday saying she formerly "worked as Inspector General for Governor Brian P. Kemp in his capacity as Georgia Secretary of State; and Judge LaGrua has been and remains under consideration for Gubernatorial appointments" by the governor, reported WGCL-TV.

This morning, Judge Ellerbe is recused herself from the case. The first hearing was scheduled for 11 a.m. Tuesday but was canceled, according to the Georgia Attorney General’s Office.

The state will have to seek another hearing, which will be reassigned to a new judge, reported the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Gov. Kemp's office filed a lawsuit Thursday afternoon seeking to ban Bottoms' mask mandate. The announcement followed her news conference in which she said publicly that her order was "enforceable."

Atlanta isn't the only city to issue a mask mandate. Savannah, East Point, Athens-Clarke County have also issued orders and other cities across the state could soon pass similar measures.

The mayor said in a TV interview that Kemp filed the lawsuit to placate President Donald Trump.

While many people are struggling to put food on the table, find a job or keep their businesses open, Kemp said during a news conference Friday morning, some leaders have "decided to play politics by exploiting these difficult, emotional moments for political gain."