Supreme Court Rejects Request to Seal Divorce Records of Ruben and Kate Gallego

PHOENIX — The Arizona Supreme Court has ruled against a motion to keep the divorce documents of Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego and U.S. Senate candidate Ruben Gallego private. This decision was made public on Wednesday, marking the continuation of a legal battle surrounding these records.

The couple’s divorce was finalized in 2017. In 2024, the Washington Free Beacon filed a lawsuit in Yavapai Superior Court seeking to unseal records from the case. According to attorneys representing the Gallegos, the Free Beacon’s intent was influenced by “political motivations.”

Initially, the Gallegos sought to redact sensitive information regarding their minor child, a request that was ultimately denied by the court. As a result, a version of the records without redactions is set to be released.

In a prior ruling, the Arizona Court of Appeals decided that while the documents should be made public, a stay would be in effect until October 17. The Gallegos’ attorneys expressed concern that disclosure of the records could harm their child, who is mentioned extensively throughout. They indicated that the documents reveal personal insights into their parenting plans.

On October 15, the Gallegos escalated their appeal to the Arizona Supreme Court. However, the court swiftly countered their request, asserting that the couple did not provide sufficient grounds to block the records’ release, nor did they pinpoint specific content that could lead to irreparable harm.

Yavapai County Judge John Napper previously indicated that the divorce records appeared unremarkable. At a June status hearing, he noted, “This looks to me like one of the most garden-variety divorce files I have ever seen,” suggesting that the content might not be as revealing or significant as anticipated.

The documents are now slated for public release on Thursday, October 17, 2024.

BREAKING: Arizona Supreme Court rejects Gallegos’ bid for stay on unsealing divorce documents. Per appeals court order, docs are to be released Thursday. pic.twitter.com/chevlmyM5m