Judge in Trayvon Martin case must step down

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Florida Court of Appeals agrees with Zimmerman that his current judge is unfairly biased. Court orders him to step down


(CNN) -- A Florida appeals court granted George Zimmerman's request for a new judge Wednesday, saying the original judge's remarks put Zimmerman in reasonable fear of a fair trial.

Zimmerman, 28, is charged with second-degree murder in the February 26 shooting death of teenager Trayvon Martin.

Zimmerman's attorneys wanted Seminole County Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester removed, saying language he used in a bail order disparaged their client's character and held over his head the threat of future criminal proceedings.

The Fifth District Court of Appeal agreed, and Lester must now step down.

There was no immediate response to the ruling from either Lester, prosecutors or Zimmerman's attorneys.

Lester revoked Zimmerman's original $150,000 bond after learning Zimmerman and his wife, Shellie, failed to disclose more than $100,000 in donations from the public.

The judge then set a new bail of $1 million in July, and it was the language in that bail order that Zimmerman and his lawyers took issue with.


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Appeals court: Judge in Trayvon Martin case must step down - CNN.com