A visiting judge denied a request Friday to remove 54th State District Judge Matt Johnson from hearing a request to disqualify McLennan County District Attorney Abel Reyna from prosecuting Twin Peaks shootout defendant George Bergman.
Retired State District Judge Joe Carroll, of Bell County, was appointed to hear the matter and signed the denial Wednesday before it was filed Friday.
How in the heck can Johnson not be recused from presiding over a hearing involving his former partner in business?
I thought the standards were along lines of; if it merely looked like there could be conflict of interest there was apparent (enough) conflict.
That's to head off the excuse making "but I would never do such a thing" sort of response wherein the excuse maker possibly believes his own B.S. but is blinded to how bias inherent to personal & professional relationships can blind one to their very own biases(!).