"I don't know if anything will proceed until we have heard from the CA Judicial Council"

 

Hearing on three defense motions in the Jason Smith case was scheduled for April 12. It was continued to April 14 due to additional motions.

Deputy Conflict Counsel April Van Dyke had filed motions to dismiss the jury, recuse the judge for prejudice and recuse the District Attorney's office in the Smith trial.  The conduct alleged occurred during the jury trial process.

The California Attorney General filed the motion to oppose the recusal of the Humboldt County DA. Ms. Joyce Blair from the California Attorney General's office was present today to argue their motion.

Since the last hearing, the Humboldt District Attorney filed an opposition to dismiss the "jury venire" which are the prospective jurors who have been selected; the defense filed a motion for discovery and an reply to the opposition for recusal.

The defense is filing a Humphrey's motion. That is a motion to address the constitutionality of money bail.

There has been no filing from the California Judicial Council regarding the recusal of Judge Kaleb Cockrum. 

Deputy District Attorney Trent Timm is the prosecutor for this case.

Despite two requests from Ms. Van Dyke to schedule matters for April 15, Presiding Judge Joyce Hinrichs scheduled today's hearing and Judge Cockrum scheduled the hearing on April 14.

Judge Cockrum said he is "quasi recused."

"I don't know if anything will proceed until we have heard from the CA Judicial Council," said Judge Cockrum. The Smith trial is currently on hiatus.

So why keep scheduling hearings which are a waste of time?

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