SBF Sues Judge for Bias, Demands Recusal After Musk Cases Reassigned

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SBF Claims Alleged Judicial Double Standards Amid Ongoing FTX Case Appeals

Key Highlights

  • SBF contrasts Delaware Chancellor McCormick’s decision to reassign Elon Musk’s cases with Judge Kaplan’s refusal to step away from the FTX proceedings.
  • He cites Kaplan’s alleged “hostility,” pre-verdict comments, and “juror incentives” (pizza and rides) as grounds for a new trial.
  • Judge Kaplan recently ordered SBF to disclose who is actually drafting his “pro se” filings after prosecutors flagged a suspicious FedEx package sent from outside the prison.

Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of the failed crypto exchange FTX who is currently in prison, recently posted a statement on X (formerly Twitter) about what he sees as unfair treatment by the courts. He pointed out that a judge in Delaware recused themselves from cases involving Elon Musk, while the judge overseeing his own fraud trial, Lewis Kaplan, has not done the same, despite what Bankman-Fried believes are similar reasons for recusal.

Sam Bankman-Fried highlighted that a Delaware court judge, Kathaleen St. J. McCormick, decided to transfer three lawsuits involving Elon Musk and his businesses. This decision followed claims from Musk’s lawyers that McCormick had shown favoritism by seemingly supporting a social media post critical of Musk after a different court case in California. While McCormick denied being biased, she explained that the intense media coverage led her to reassign the cases.

The chief justice of Delaware has recused herself from three cases due to concerns about potential bias. She was accused of showing approval of a LinkedIn post celebrating the loss of the defendant in a separate case. Meanwhile, Judge Kaplan in the Southern District of New York continues to oversee my case, despite openly displaying a negative attitude towards me, as evidenced by…

— SBF (@SBF_FTX) March 31, 2026

Sam Bankman-Fried claimed the judge in his case should step aside, citing similar reasons to those raised in other cases. He highlighted reports that Judge Lewis Kaplan appeared biased during the 2023 trial, hinted at enough evidence for a guilty verdict before the jury decided, and supposedly offered jurors pizza and transportation home, which may have rushed their deliberation to under five hours.

Sam Bankman-Fried argued that Judge Kaplan should step aside from his case, similar to how the judge didn’t recuse himself from Donald Trump’s defamation lawsuit brought by E. Jean Carroll, despite accusations of bias.

Background: The FTX conviction and ongoing appeals

Sam Bankman-Fried was found guilty in November 2023 of seven serious crimes, including fraud and conspiracy, stemming from the failure of the FTX crypto exchange. This failure resulted in billions of dollars in losses for customers, investors, and business partners. In March 2024, Judge Kaplan sentenced him to 25 years in prison.

Since his conviction, Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) has continued to claim he didn’t commit a crime. In his appeals and legal filings, he argues that important evidence wasn’t presented at trial and that the legal process was unfair. His formal appeal is still being considered by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, though judges have already questioned some of his arguments.

As of early 2026, Sam Bankman-Fried is still trying to get his trial overturned, arguing that Judge Kaplan made unfair rulings. He claims the judge blocked him from presenting evidence that FTX was financially stable or that his business choices were based on legal counsel. Now, he’s facing a new obstacle in this effort.

On March 23, 2026, Judge Kaplan instructed Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) to disclose, under oath, who is assisting him with his legal filings. Prosecutors raised concerns about a letter sent to the court from Menlo Park, California, even though SBF is currently in jail in San Pedro. SBF has until April 15th to explain whether he’s receiving hidden legal support from attorneys, a requirement Judge Kaplan stated is crucial for openness and following court procedures.

Community reactions split

People in the crypto world disagree about how Sam Bankman-Fried, or SBF, will be remembered. Most see the collapse of FTX as a warning about poor management and the misuse of customer money during the 2022 downturn in the market. However, some believe his prison sentence is too severe and suggest there may be unfairness in how the case was prosecuted or judged, especially given his high profile.

As a researcher following the case, I understand that Sam Bankman-Fried is currently in prison, serving a 25-year sentence with an expected release sometime in the mid-2040s. He has appealed his conviction, but the Second Circuit judges have already indicated they aren’t convinced by his arguments that the trial was unfair.

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2026-03-31 11:49