On Monday, Judge Katherine Thomas recused herself after she learned that she was acquainted with a witness in the case against Adacia Chambers. Thomas said that information is “privileged and confidential” under state law.
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Police are recommending charges be upgraded opposite Adacia Chambers, a lady suspected of pushing into a throng of spectators during a Oklahoma State University homecoming parade. Since then, Chambers has been formally charged with four counts of second-degree murder and 46 counts of assault.
Witten claims in the 3-page lawsuit that Chambers, while intoxicated, “negligently drove her Hyundai Elantra into an unmanned police motorcycle before careening into the crowd of parade spectators in Stillwater, Oklahoma”.
If that motion fails, said Coleman, he will request a separate court hearing on Chambers’ mental condition to competently comprehend the criminal prosecution against her.
“Although it is too late to un-ring a bell that was caused by counsel’s filing of a evaluation, a state would ask a justice scold warn per this crude recover of information”, Thomas wrote. “And require that any future filings specifically related to matters of mental health or containing any mental health records be subject to court scrutiny… before being made available in the public domain”.
KOCO Oklahoma City reported forensic psychologist Shawn Roberson found Chambers shows “signs of severe mental illness which would impair her competency”.
Chambers’ attorney, Tony Coleman, has said his client is mentally ill. He said he wants the judge Monday to transfer Chambers from jail to a mental institution for treatment that will allow her to get better so she can comprehend the nature of the charges and the possible consequences she faces.
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The Payne County district attorney had no comment on Judge Thomas’ recusal.
