All Lancaster County judges recused in double homicide at Lincoln strip club

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — No judge in Lancaster County can preside over the trial of a man accused of killing two people at a Lincoln strip club.

Last week, Judge Matthew Mellor granted Christopher Johnson’s request to recuse all the judges in the Third Judicial District.

Johnson is charged in the shooting deaths of Carlos Silva and Terrell Jones at The Office Gentlemen’s Club on May 25.

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In September, he asked the judge then handling the case — Kevin McManaman — to recuse himself because his bailiff was listed as a witness.

McManaman agreed, but then Johnson filed a new motion say all Lancaster County District Court judges should recuse themselves.

His attorney argued that the judges and their staffs work so closely together that the bailiff’s role in the case creates at least the appearance of a conflict of interest.

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Mellor’s ruling indicates that he was not swayed by the argument.

“As the State adequately pointed out, Judges are not required to live in a bubble to remain impartial or ensure impartiality and the appearance of impartiality,” he wrote.

But Mellor said he ordered the sweeping recusal because Johnson “publicly called into question the integrity” of the court.

“This is a cautionary measure by the Court to ensure this matter is handled without question to the impartiality of the Judge who presides over the case,” he wrote.

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Mellor has asked the state’s chief justice to assign the case to a judge from a different district.

It’s not clear whether the trial would also be moved to that judge’s county.