State v. Widner

The critical issue in this case is whether the original trial judge erred in declaring, sua sponte, a mistrial at appellant’s first trial, in view of the fact that: (1) both of appellant’s defense lawyers had been found in contempt of court and removed from the courtroom; (2) appellant himself expressed a desire to be tried before another judge; (3) appellant, too, had been found in contempt of court and removed from the courtroom; and (4) appellant’s co-defendant was ready to go to trial on the merits before the same judge at the time the three foregoing contempt citations were effected.

It…