Ex Parte Atchley

The petitioner, Hal Maxim Atchley, filed this petition for a writ of mandamus directing Judge Jenifer C. Holt to recuse herself from presiding over his trial for the offense of intentional murder. In June 2002, Atchley was indicted by a Jackson County grand jury for murder. He was arrested in May 2005. The case was assigned to Judge Holt. Atchley moved that Judge Holt recuse herself from the case because, he argued, when she was in private practice she represented Atchley on an escape charge and they had had a confrontation. Judge Holt entered a written order denying the motion. Atchley filed…