Monday, August 28, 2006

Carlton disqualifies himself from Surface case, conflict of interest cited


How of if this will affect the drunk driving case against Jasper County Presiding Commissioner Chuck Surface remains to be seen, but the case is headed to a third judge.
Jasper County Division IV Judge Stephen Carlton disqualified himself from the case today, citing a conflict of interest, according to Circuit Court records. Surface's arraignment is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.
The case will now be transferred to Division II, according to Case.net. The presiding judge for Division II is David Dally.
Initially, the case was in Judge Joseph Schoeberl's court, but Surface asked for a change of judge. The case is being handled by a special prosecutor, Robert George of Lawrence County, who was appointed after Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney Dean Dankelson disqualified himself due to a conflict of interest.

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