Trayvon Martin Judge Jessica Recksiedler Replaced By Kenneth R. Lester: What Are The Impacts?

Florida Circuit Judge Jessica Recksiedler, who was presiding over the Trayvon Martin case, stepped down Wednesday and will be replaced by Judge Kenneth R. Lester. As the nation reacts to this shuffling of judges, many observers are parsing what the impacts of Judge Jessica Recksiedler's decision will be.

Judge Jessica Recksiedler recused herself from the second-degree murder trial of George Zimmerman -- the 28-year-old admitted killer of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin -- on Wednesday after Zimmerman's lawyer brought up a potential conflict of interest related to the professional career of her husband, according to Michelle Kennedy, a spokeswoman for the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Court in Florida.

Circuit Judge Jessica Recksiedler has executed an order disqualifying herself from further proceedings in the State of Florida v. George Zimmerman. In the three-page Order dated April 18, 2012, Judge Recksiedler made findings that each basis, in and of itself, were 'legally insufficient' for disqualification, Kenned wrote in a Wednesday afternoon email. In addition, the Order further states '[e]ven though this Court finds that neither of these, standing alone, is legally sufficient for disqualification, the cumulative effect of the events and the totality of the circumstances provides a legally sufficient basis for this Court to grant the Motion to Disqualify.'

Recksiedler's husband works with Orlando lawyer Mark NeJame, the AP reports. NeJame was asked to represent George Zimmerman earlier on in the aftermath of the Feb. 26 shooting, which awakened dormant racial tensions across America as the details of Trayvon Martin's death emerged and Zimmerman remained a free man.

NeJame turned down the offer, and now works for CNN as a pundit offering his analysis of the case. But it appears that Trayvon Martin Judge Jessica Reckiedler, who had said she would decide by Friday about whether or not to step down from the case, decided Wednesday that she could not overcome the potential conflict of interest.

The next judge in line to take the case was Judge John D. Galluzzo, who also said he had a conflict, according to Kennedy.

Chief Judge Dickey is in receipt of a Notice of Judicial Conflict from Judge John D. Galluzzo, certifying to Chief Judge Dickey that Judge Galluzzo has a conflict in performing his duties as a circuit judge in any matter in controversy where Mark M. O'Mara is the attorney of record because of their prior business and personal relationship and the requirements of Cannon 3E of the Florida Code of Judicial Conduct so the task of heading up the trial of George Zimmerman fell to Judge Kenneth R. Lester, according to Kennedy.

The impacts of this change are not expected to be very far-reaching, as the trial has just begun and Judge Jessica Recksiedler was just named to the Trayvon Martin shooting case after George Zimmerman was arrested and charged with second-degree murder last week.

But any change of presiding judge can result in certain proceedings having to be re-held, changes in strategy on behalf of both defense attorneys and prosecutors and more.

The fallout of Judge Jessica Recksiedler's being replaced by Judge Kenneth R. Lester in the George Zimmerman will be seen as the trial proceeds.