New judge assigned in Trayvon Martin case

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A new judge has been assigned to oversee the case of George Zimmerman, the former neighborhood watch volunteer charged with killing Trayvon Martin.

Debra S. Nelson, a 13-year judicial veteran, was assigned to Zimmerman’s case Thursday. A day earlier, an appeals court granted his attorney’s request for Judge Kenneth Lester to disqualify himself.

Attorney Mark O’Mara had asked the court earlier this month to overturn Lester’s decision not to leave the case. O’Mara contended that the judge made disparaging remarks about Zimmerman’s character and advocated for additional charges against him in setting his $1 million bond in July.

Two judges on a three-judge appeals panel agreed in an opinion issued Wednesday.

O’Mara previously said if he won the appeal, he could re-file previous requests ruled on by Lester.