(Image Source: The New York Times )

 

BY BREANA JONES

ANCHOR CHRISTINA HARTMAN


It’s just the latest twist in what has been a rollercoaster of events in the Trayvon Martin case. Reports say Judge Jessica Recksiedler will step down Wednesday. CBS News has why .

“Judge Jessica Recksiedler might have to step aside from George Zimmerman’s murder case. Her husband works in the same law firm as a CNN legal analyst.”

That legal analyst, Mark NeJame, has been very vocal about the case. On Monday, Zimmerman’s defense team requested the judge step down. The Orlando Sentinel reported Tuesday she would make her decision by Friday. CNN spoke with NeJame about the recusal. He acknowledged...

“‘...it’s an appearance of a conflict, an appearance of an impropriety’ for Recksiedler to preside over the case. But he said he thought she did nothing improper by waiting for a request from attorneys instead of offering to recuse herself first.”

A legal analyst for truTV  says, the recusal could affect the future of the case.  

“We don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes right now. But another judge would have to be in place to hear the bail hearing, the motion for bail that the defense has also filed on Friday, so it all sort of has to fall in place.”

Another fact of note -- Zimmerman originally asked NeJame to be his defense lawyer, not once but twice. The New York Times reports the first request came on March 13 and then again, after the bizarre press conference by Zimmerman’s former lawyers.

“Mr. NeJame got a call a day later from a close family friend of the Zimmermans. He gave the friend a list of the five lawyers; they chose Mr. O’Mara.”

The Orlando Sentinel also says Recksiedler’s replacement will likely be chosen from a pool of three Florida judges. Meanwhile, the media wants the state to release records sealed last week at the request of Zimmerman’s lawyer. WTVJ in Miami has details.

“Those records are normally public under Florida law. The motion by the news organizations says Zimmerman's case doesn't meet the standards that are typically used to create an exemption to those laws.”