Hood's lawyers want judge to step down

ATHENS - Defense lawyers for a man accused of gunning down an Athens-Clarke County police officer a year ago have asked the judge presiding over the case to step down.

The lawyers for Jamie Hood maintain that Western Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Lawton Stephens can't be impartial because of his ties to the fallen officer. The lawyers wrote in court documents that Stephens knew the officer who was killed and attended his funeral.

Police Officer Elmer "Buddy" Christian was gunned down on March 22, 2011.

Hood is charged with murder in the shooting of Christian. Hood is also accused of attempting to kill Senior Police Officer Tony Howard.

Earlier this month, Hood himself spoke out in a court hearing and demanded that Stephens recuse himself.

The lawyers filed their motion officially seeking the judge's recusal late Friday afternoon.