Ex Parte Crawford

In the Mobile Circuit Court, Virgil Marinus Crawford was convicted in two cases of receiving stolen property. The circuit court judge was Judge Chris N. Galanos. Before the trial of his cases, Crawford made a motion for Judge Galanos to recuse, citing the fact that Judge Galanos had been the district attorney for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit (Mobile County) when criminal proceedings were initiated against Crawford. Judge Galanos denied Crawford's recusal motion.

On appeal to the Court of Criminal Appeals, Crawford argued that Judge Galanos had erred in denying his motion to recuse. In an…