Georgia judge chosen to replace Judge Fuller for Nichols trial
And the winner is...
Judge Jim Bodiford from Cobb County, Georgia. A no-nonsense judge with a lot of experience in handling death penalty cases, including high-profile trials.
The Atlanta Journal Constitution covered the announcement. I was also interviewed about this selection on WABE FM 90.1 in Atlanta, the local public radio station.
Some defense lawyers may not like Judge Bodiford, but no one can deny his experience, especially in this type of criminal case. He is probably the best choice considering the difficulties that have arisen in this case, and the need to get it tried before the entire indigent defense budget in Georgia is exhausted.
Another thing about Judge Bodiford that makes him a good choice for this case is his genuine love of trials. From what I have seen, this judge truly enjoys his job and likes to preside over interesting trials, especially when experienced and talented lawyers are involved. He usually lets the lawyers try their case, but knows how to keep control of the courtroom.
I expect Judge Bodiford to waste very little time in resolving the pending issues and setting a trial date. The change in judges won't guarantee a fair or speedy trial, but it may at least move this case forward.
It's about time.
