A white Alabama police officer charged with killing a black man last year is now asking the black judge currently hearing the case to step aside.
Attorneys for Aaron Smith are asking Montgomery County Circuit Judge Greg Griffin to recuse himself from Smith’s case based on a Facebook post he reportedly wrote shortly after the shooting. WSFA reports the motion includes a copy of a post in which Griffin writes he was stopped by Montgomery police because he was black and walking down a street.
The motion says that's similar to what happened in the case against Smith, who shot and killed Greg Gunn while Gunn was walking in his neighborhood late at night. Smith’s attorneys argue Judge Griffin had been subjected to and spoke out against the same actions that would ultimately weigh heavily on Smith’s guilt or innocence.
Judge Griffin has scheduled a hearing for tomorrow to consider the request.