- Police Officer's Lawyer Worked on the Judge's Campaign
The judge tapped to preside over the inquest into the shooting death of black Delray Beach teen by a white police officer removed himself from the case Wednesday amid questions about his ties to attorneys involved in the hearing. Judge Donald Hafele said those associations were not a conflict of interest, but he was stepping down to ensure public confidence in an investigation that has stoked racial tension. "What is of paramount importance is the absolute integrity of the process and ensuring that a community still in pain is comfortable with the manner in which the inquest is carried out," Hafele told attorneys, NAACP representatives and members of the teen's family assembled for a hearing to discuss the inquest into the Feb. 26 shooting death of 16-year-old Jerrod Miller. "This is a gut-wrenching decision and probably the toughest decision I've had to make as a professional," Hafele said. His wife, Martha Hafele, was seated in court and wiped away tears as the judge said his decision to step aside "goes against every fiber of my being." Palm Beach County Chief Judge Edward Fine assigned Judge Debra Moses Stephens to take over. Fine said the hearing, expected to last three days, still was scheduled to start Monday. The final decision on scheduling rests with Stephens, who couldn't be reached for comment. NAACP officials began questioning Hafele's involvement in the case when the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported Friday that attorney Scott Richardson had served as the judge's campaign treasurer during his 2000 re-election campaign.[more] and [more]
- A two-week
delay has been ordered for the coroner’s inquest into the shooting
death of a Delray teen at the hands of a local police officer Feb. 26. [more]