Judge overseeing Tyre Nichols federal case recuses himself days before sentencings
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The federal judge presiding over the case against five former Memphis officers convicted in the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols recused himself Friday, just days before he was supposed to hand down sentences for the men.
U.S. District Judge Mark S. Norris issued a one-sentence order saying he was recusing himself 'and respectfully returns the matter to the Clerk for reassignment to another United States District Judge for all further proceedings.'
He offered no further explanation. Norris' clerk and the U.S. Attorney's Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Four of the five officers had been scheduled to be sentenced next week, the fifth on June 23. It was not immediately clear how Norris' decision would affect the case.
Several motions had been filed under seal in recent days. It was not clear if any of those asked for Norris to step away from the case. It is unusual for a judge to recuse themself from a case between a trial and sentencing.
Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, fled a traffic stop after he was yanked out of his car, pepper-sprayed and hit with a Taser. The five officers, who are also Black, caught up with him and punched, kicked and hit him with a police baton, struggling to handcuff Nichols as he called out for his mother just steps from his home. Nichols died Jan. 10, 2023, three days after the beating.
Footage of the beating captured by a police pole camera also showed the officers milling about, talking and laughing as Nichols struggled with his injuries, video that prompted intense scrutiny of police in Memphis.
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