WAYNE COUNTY, Mich. – Questions surround Wayne County Judge Chandra Baker Robinson’s decision not to recuse herself from a murder trial as it was revealed that she was related to the victim.
The familial connection has caused controversy.
“Robinson is a very common name, from what I understand,” said Baker-Robinson. “There is no way that I would think that someone’s last name was Robinson was related to me.”
Attorneys representing Timothy Bennett and Stephen Pruitt filed a motion to disqualify Baker-Robinson from their first-degree homicide case and to issue a new trial after the judge learned that the victim, Devan Robinson, was related to her through her husband.
The information came after the case had already been turned over to a jury.
“As I indicated, I don’t know that family and neither does my husband,” said Baker-Robinson in court Monday (Aug. 21) morning.
She denied the defense’s motion.
“The court is going to indicate it will not be recusing itself because the only thing I am at this point is sentencing. I have no discretion at the sentencing because the jury found both defendants guilty of first-degree murder, which is life without the possibility of parole,” Baker-Robinson said.
But Bennett’s attorney, Purna Krishnamoorthy, said while the jury was deliberating, Baker-Robinson responded to a substantial juror question without disclosing her connection to the victim at the time.
“We wanted a fair shake from the beginning,” said Krishnamoorthy. “I think it is important for people to have faith in the neutrality and the impartiality of our judicial system.”
Bennett agreed.
“Thank you for not giving me a fair trial,” Bennett told the judge before he was sentenced.
Krishnamoorthy said she may have to take the case to the appellate court.
Pruitt will be sentenced on Wednesday (Aug. 23).
A spokesperson for the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office said recusal is discretionary in this circumstance.
“A judge is required to recuse themselves if they are related to a party within a 3rddegree relation. Here, Judge Baker-Robinson and the victim appear to have a 6th degree of relation. Therefore, her recusal was discretionary, not mandatory,” said Maria Miller with the prosecutor’s office in a statement.
Miller also stated “the judge disclosed to the parties as soon as she found out that she was distantly related by marriage to the victim in the case. She had no acquaintance with the person.”
