Legal Ethics
Okla. Judge Denies DA's Blanket Recusal Motion, Filed Under Seal
An Oklahoma judge swiftly denied yesterday a motion by a prosecutor seeking his recusal in all criminal cases in which the Cleveland County district attorney’s office is involved.
Cleveland County District Judge Tom Lucas took less than a minute to make the ruling yesterday, in a courtroom packed with attorneys curious about the unusual proceeding, then left the bench, reports the Oklahoman.
In a motion filed under seal in a child molestation case, the DA’s office contended that Lucas is prejudiced against the prosecution due to an active child molestation investigation in which a member of his family is involved.
The DA’s office is expected to seek a rehearing on the recusal request before another judge and potentially appeal.
