County officials cited in judges' City View recusals

GAINESVILLE - Hall County Court Administrator Reggie Forrester Tuesday shed some light on the reasons the county's four Superior Court judges recused themselves from the City View case... noting, for one thing, the number of county officials closely associated with the matter.

"It involves two members of the county commission and there may be issues on the county commission about this case," Forrester said, while pointing out that it also involves the county attorney's office, "that we, as a court, and the judges use on a frequent basis." (See earlier story. Link below.)

Forrester said the high-profile nature of the case also played a part in the decision. But, he said recusing themselves from matter is an unusual step for the judges. "Judges routinely do not remove themselves from matters involving the county" or county commissioners "if it is a private matter that does not involve public entities and of a high-profile nature."

The judges' actions are detailed in filings in the Clerk of Courts office. (See earlier story. Link below.)

The case has been assigned to Ninth Judicial Circuit Administrative Judge Michael Clark. Forrester said Tuesday Judge Clark has the option of hearing the case himself or assigning it to another judge.