Garth Withdraws Request For Steelman Recusals

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Public Defender Ardena Garth on Tuesday withdrew a spate of recusal requests of Criminal Court Judge Barry Steelman.

The action comes after local criminal defense attorneys told the judge they wanted to get involved and find a "compromise" in the stalemate that was clogging one division of the court.

Ms. Garth said in earlier motions she felt the judge was biased toward her office and was "venomous" toward it.

She had asked for recusals in some 150 cases.

Over 40 defense attorneys had offered to take some of the cases without charge to help out the court and keep indigent defendants from having to sit in jail unnecessarily.

It is expected that those defense attorneys will handle cases for any of those for whom recusal motions were filed who want new attorneys.

Also it is expected that different public defenders will be assigned to the Steelman court.


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