State v. Vandiver

The petitioner, Morgan Tillman Vandi-ver, filed this petition for a writ of mandamus directing Judge Sharon H. Hester to *1216recuse herself from presiding over his trial. Vandiver was charged with the unlawful manufacture of controlled substances, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a controlled substance.

The exhibits filed with the mandamus petition show that on December 5, 2005, Vandiver was transported from the Limestone Correctional Facility for a pretrial hearing on the three charges against him. At the hearing Vandiver physically assaulted an individual who was seated in the…