Scurlock v. James CA2/4
This appeal arises from a judgment following the recusal of a trial judge, the declaration of mistrial, and a retrial on past due child support and childcare owed by appellant Reginald Scurlock (hereinafter, father) to respondent Roman James (formerly known as Shannon Johnson; hereinafter, mother) for their child, A.J. During the initial trial on child support and arrearages in 2016, the trial judge (Judge Ana Luna) issued pendente lite orders reducing father’s obligation to pay monthly support to mother. Several years later, mother lodged a complaint with the Commission on Judicial Performance and filed a verified motion to disqualify the judge. In both the complaint and motion, mother accused Judge Luna of bias against her and other women who have suffered abuse by former partners. Without conceding disqualification, Judge Luna recused herself after which the Supervising Judge of the Family Law Department declared a mistrial and assigned the matter to a new judge.
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