WACO - A visiting judge from Houston denied a motion to force local district judges off the bench in all cases involving defendants in the motorcycle gang shooting cases.
Judges, lawyers and biker defendants packed a Waco courtroom Thursday morning while attorneys argued to have local district judges barred from hearing cases that involve those accused in the Twin Peaks shooting.
But about an hour-and-a-half after it started, Judge Doug Shaver denied the recusal motion and said that ruling applied to all nine defendants who were part of the issue.
After issuing his final ruling, Shaver suggested that the local judges make efforts to expedite bond reduction hearings to ease the burden on McLennan County taxpayers who are footing the cost of keeping those defendants in jail.
Testimony began at 9 a.m. in 54th District Court with visiting Shaver, of Houston, seated to hear the arguments.
Initially attorney Adam Reposa called Judge Ralph Strother to the stand but Shaver denied his testimony because Reposa had not properly notify the Texas Attorney General’s Office of the need for the judge to testify.
Three of the nine bikers who are part of the recusal motion were in the courtroom.
Local attorney David Deaconson was in the courtroom, along with District Attorney Abel Reyna, opposing the recusal motions.
District Judge Matt Johnson took the stand to testify and Reposa asked him if there was a problem with judges reducing bonds in McLennan County, to which Johnson replied “no”.
As a part of the state’s argument, Deaconson stated the issues filed in court on the recusal had not been properly filed and were moot.
At about 10:30 a.m. Judge Shaver announced his decision.
http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/Visiting-Judge-Denies-Motion-To-Recuse-Local-Judges-In-Biker-Cases-306142921.html
Judges, lawyers and biker defendants packed a Waco courtroom Thursday morning while attorneys argued to have local district judges barred from hearing cases that involve those accused in the Twin Peaks shooting.
But about an hour-and-a-half after it started, Judge Doug Shaver denied the recusal motion and said that ruling applied to all nine defendants who were part of the issue.
After issuing his final ruling, Shaver suggested that the local judges make efforts to expedite bond reduction hearings to ease the burden on McLennan County taxpayers who are footing the cost of keeping those defendants in jail.
Testimony began at 9 a.m. in 54th District Court with visiting Shaver, of Houston, seated to hear the arguments.
Initially attorney Adam Reposa called Judge Ralph Strother to the stand but Shaver denied his testimony because Reposa had not properly notify the Texas Attorney General’s Office of the need for the judge to testify.
Three of the nine bikers who are part of the recusal motion were in the courtroom.
Local attorney David Deaconson was in the courtroom, along with District Attorney Abel Reyna, opposing the recusal motions.
District Judge Matt Johnson took the stand to testify and Reposa asked him if there was a problem with judges reducing bonds in McLennan County, to which Johnson replied “no”.
As a part of the state’s argument, Deaconson stated the issues filed in court on the recusal had not been properly filed and were moot.
At about 10:30 a.m. Judge Shaver announced his decision.
http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/Visiting-Judge-Denies-Motion-To-Recuse-Local-Judges-In-Biker-Cases-306142921.html