[don'tbedenied]

Unless I'm mistaken your reasoning is incorrect:

1) they got a new judge because it was an extraordinary case, he's not elected by Durham and his term expires in 2010. (I'm working on memory here)

2) If venue is changed, the Judge doesn't necessarily change, (neither does the prosecutor).

3) This Judge and every Judge knows that an appellate court will review his rulings, so he's going to be scrutinized.

4) this Judge has made some rulings for the defense, e.g. the lab discovery and the removal of the goofy "gag" order.

What is shocking to me is the slowness of everything, but I am not yet believing that this judge has a dog in the fight.

[Howlin]

You may well be right, I'm just going by what the talking heads have been saying.