In a recent development, America First Legal (AFL) has taken legal action against the Ethics Commission for the New York State Unified Court System and Judge Juan Merchan. The lawsuit comes as a result of their refusal to produce Judge Merchan's financial disclosures from 2018 to 2024, which are required by law. Under New York regulations, judges are obligated to file annual financial disclosures that should be made available for public inspection upon request.

AFL initially requested these financial disclosures on June 6, 2024, but has not received a response since then. In an attempt to secure the required information, AFL sent a demand letter to the Ethics Commission on August 30, 2024, warning of potential legal action if the documents were not handed over. Today, AFL is making good on their promise and proceeding with a lawsuit to obtain Judge Merchan's financial records.

The primary aim of these disclosure rules is to ensure transparency by allowing parties involved in court matters, as well as the general public, to access any potential conflicts of interest, biases, or prejudices. Dan Epstein, Vice President of America First Legal, emphasized the importance of releasing judicial financial disclosures to the public. He stated, "The law is clear that judicial financial disclosures must be released to the public. New York's highest court has stated that such disclosures are necessary for parties before the courts to get a fair shake. The public needs to know what Judge Merchan is hiding or even if he failed to file financial disclosures at all."

Epstein further raised concerns about Judge Merchan's alleged involvement in unlawful campaign contributions and the possibility of him being involved in the forthcoming criminal sentencing of the former President of the United States. He stressed that fundamental fairness requires a resolution in favor of America First Legal's lawsuit.

America First Legal Foundation, a recognized section 501(c)(3) public charity, is heading this legal battle. Donations made to the foundation are tax-deductible as allowed by law, bolstering their efforts in pursuing transparency and accountability in the judicial system.

As the lawsuit unfolds, many will be watching closely to see if Judge Merchan's financial disclosures will be released, and what impact this case might have on the broader issue of judicial transparency.