The federal judge overseeing the State of New Jersey’s lawsuit targeting congestion pricing recused himself from the case Tuesday, weeks after a New York lawmaker requested that he step aside from the case.

A law clerk in the chambers of Judge Brian Martinotti confirmed the news posted to the case’s docket, but declined to comment to NY1 on why Judge Martinotti recused himself.

It follows an effort from state Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, a Manhattan Democrat and supporter of congestion pricing, which will charge most drivers $15 to drive into Manhattan below 60th Street during the day.

Hoylman-Sigal argued in a letter to the district's chief judge that Judge Martinotti's wife had a political connection with Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat and opponent of congestion pricing.

“With the fate of our environment, economy, and public transit system at stake, New Yorkers deserve a fair shake before a jurist without even an appearance of or potential for bias,” Hoylman-Sigal said in a statement.

New Jersey is suing the U.S. Department of Transportation, alleging the agency rushed its approval of congestion pricing and that a more thorough examination of the first-in-the-nation congestion toll was required.

Judge Martinotti, however, had support from Chief U.S. District Judge Renée Marie Bumb, who called him a “most respected jurist not just in this district, but in the country” in a Dec. 13, 2023 letter.

The Manhattan lawmaker wrote that Judge Martinotti should step aside because of the “close political ties between his spouse,” a town councilwoman, and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, who appointed her to the Port Authority’s board in 2021. She left in 2022.

That relationship “threatens to create an appearance of impropriety on the part of Judge Martinotti in New Jersey v. USDOT and thus requires him to recuse himself in this case,” Hoylman-Sigal wrote. Judge Martinotti, however, had support from Chief U.S. District Judge Renée Marie Bumb, who called him in a letter a “most respected jurist not just in this district, but in the country.”

Judge Bumb also criticized Hoylman-Sigal for his letter that “wages an ad hominem attack on a judge in this district.”

“Such attacks are a disservice to the name of public service and the work that our dedicated public servants perform tirelessly day in and day out,” Judge Bumb wrote.

NY1 reached out to Judge Bumb’s chambers to request Judge Martinotti’s reasoning for his recusal. New Jersey’s lawsuit was transferred to Judge Claire C. Cecchi on Wednesday.

NY1 originally reported Judge Julien Neals was assigned to the case, but on Wednesday a clerk's note in the docket said that his assignment was made in error.