The Arizona Supreme Court recently ruled against a motion from U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego and Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego to keep their divorce records private.
The divorce, finalized in 2017, has become the subject of public interest after the Washington Free Beacon filed a lawsuit in 2024 to unseal the records.
Attorneys for both Gallegos argued that the request was motivated by political interests and that the documents contain sensitive information about their minor child, including details about their co-parenting arrangements.
Despite their efforts to redact certain portions, the Yavapai Superior Court rejected those requests, leading to a public release of the records.
In their appeal to the Arizona Supreme Court, the Gallegos sought to prevent disclosure, but the court determined that they had not sufficiently demonstrated that the release would cause irreparable harm.
Judge John Napper of Yavapai County noted that the divorce records seemed typical and lacked any extraordinary details, suggesting that the public might be disappointed by the contents.
The court’s decision highlights the ongoing tension between public access to information and the privacy concerns of individuals involved, especially regarding the welfare of children in legal matters.