MIAMI — A new judge has been appointed to hear the case of George Zimmerman, accused in the second-degree murder of Trayvon Martin in February.
Seminole County Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester Jr. will replace Circuit Judge Jessica Recksiedler, who recused herself from the case Wednesday after defense attorney Mark O’Mara raised conflict-of-interest questions last week.
The announcement of the new judge in the nationally spotlighted case came on the same day that Florida International University hosted Martin’s mother during a memorial to the slain teen. Jahvaris Fulton, Trayvon Martin’s brother and an FIU student, also attended the event, where students asked supporters to sign a petition to recall Florida’s controversial “stand your ground” law.
Zimmerman, a 28-year-old neighborhood-watch volunteer, shot Martin, 17, on Feb 26, after confronting the teen, whom he believed to be suspicious. Sanford police cited Florida’s self-defense law in not initially charging Zimmerman. A specially appointed prosecutor, Angela Corey, earlier this month announced the second-degree murder charge.
Zimmerman’s defense attorney, O’Mara, had asked Recksiedler to disqualify herself from the case after she revealed a potential conflict of interest: Her husband works with an Orlando-area lawyer, Mark NeJame, who was originally approached to represent Zimmerman on the case.
Another judge, John Galluzo, could not be appointed because of his own potential conflict of interest: O’Mara has been his business partner. Instead, Lester was appointed.
Lester will preside over Zimmerman’s scheduled bail hearing Friday.
