Via AP (h/t Samuel Keck in Tip Line)
A three-judge panel in Florida has ruled that a former neighborhood watch leader charged in the fatal shooting of teenager Trayvon Martin should be granted a new judge in his case.
Florida’s Fifth District Court of Appeal ruled Wednesday that Judge Kenneth Lester should enter a motion to disqualify himself in George Zimmerman’s second-degree murder case. Zimmerman’s attorney Mark O’Mara asked the court earlier this month to overturn a previous ruling by Lester not to leave the case.
One of the three judges dissented in the ruling.
The Orlando Sentinel reports that the State will not appeal the decision.
More to follow once I locate a copy of the decision.
Update: Link to opinion by Ragspierre in the comments. Not much there, it’s a short form Order, with little explanation. My guess — it was a close enough call that the two judges didn’t want such a high profile case to have any unnecessary distractions over judge selection.
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