A new judge has been named to a high-profile Montgomery murder trial.
Montgomery police officer Aaron Cody Smith's murder trial will now be overseen by Circuit Judge Roman Shaul.
The Montgomery Advertiser reports Circuit Judge James Anderson recused himself from Smith’s trial last week because the judge’s son works for a law firm defending Smith in a federal civil lawsuit brought by the victim’s family.
Smith is facing murder charges after fatally shooting 58-year-old Greg Gunn in February 2016. Shaul is the third judge to be officially assigned to the case, after Anderson and Judge Johnny Hardwick. Hardwick recused himself in December.
Court records briefly showed Circuit Court Greg Griffin as the next judge, but court clerk Tiffany McCord says this was a clerical error.
Authorities say Smith fatally shot Gunn as the man walked home late at night last year. The killing drew protests and intense media coverage.