The Aerosmith singer’s civil case faces another judicial reassignment after a judge stepped aside shortly before the planned trial.
LOS ANGELES, CA — A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge has recused herself from a civil lawsuit accusing Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler of sexual abuse dating to the 1970s, creating new uncertainty over when the remaining claim against the singer will go before a jury.
Judge Patricia A. Young stepped aside Sept. 15 after telling attorneys she had discovered a potential basis for disqualification. The parties were given an opportunity to waive the issue and allow Young to remain on the case, but they did not reach an agreement. Young then formally disqualified herself, leaving the lawsuit to be reassigned to another judge.
The lawsuit was filed in December 2022 by Julia Misley, formerly known as Julia Holcomb. Misley alleges Tyler began sexually abusing her in 1973, when she was 16 and he was 25, and that the relationship continued for several years. Her complaint accused Tyler of sexual assault, sexual battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Tyler has denied wrongdoing and has contested the allegations in court.
The case had been moving toward a jury trial scheduled for Sept. 28. Young said her recusal meant she could no longer rule on matters that remained pending before her. Reports from the court proceedings said the trial date was taken off her calendar as the case moved into the reassignment process. Attorneys were directed to appear before Supervising Judge Lawrence Riff at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Los Angeles on Sept. 18 to address the case’s status and reassignment.
The lawsuit has already been narrowed substantially. In an April ruling, Young rejected Tyler’s effort to end the entire case but dismissed major portions of Misley’s claims involving alleged conduct outside California. Court records left a more limited claim involving alleged conduct in California for further proceedings. No court has ruled that Tyler is liable for the allegations that remain.
Misley’s complaint alleges that she met Tyler as a teenager and later traveled and lived with him. She also alleges that Tyler obtained guardianship over her during their relationship. The lawsuit argues that Tyler used his status as a successful musician to exploit her. Tyler’s legal team has disputed Misley’s characterization of their relationship and has argued that many of the allegations were barred by applicable law and statutes of limitations.
The case was filed during a temporary California legal window that allowed some people alleging childhood sexual abuse to bring older civil claims that otherwise could have been barred by time limits. The timing and location of the alleged conduct have been central issues in Tyler’s effort to limit or dismiss Misley’s claims.
Young was not the first judge to leave the case. Court records show Judge Tamara Hall recused herself in September 2025, after which the lawsuit was reassigned to Young. Young later handled Tyler’s motion for summary judgment and other pretrial matters before stepping aside this month.
Young said from the bench that she stopped taking further action after discovering the basis for her disqualification. Public reporting on the hearing said the issue involved a potential conflict that had been disclosed to the attorneys, though the public court order did not provide a detailed explanation of the circumstances. Her recusal was procedural and did not resolve the merits of Misley’s allegations or Tyler’s defenses.
As of the latest reliable public reports reviewed, the case remained subject to reassignment and a new trial schedule had not been confirmed. The next judge assigned to the lawsuit will inherit a case that has already gone through extensive pretrial litigation and has been reduced to a narrower set of allegations than those originally filed.
Author note: Last updated September 19, 2026.