It was originally given to Circuit Judge Jessica Recksiedler, but she recused herself Wednesday after Zimmerman's attorney asked her to step aside because of a possible conflict of interest: Her husband is the law partner of Mark NeJame, who's been hired to comment on the case for CNN.
All criminal cases in Seminole County are assigned by chance, based on a rotation system. Next up in that rotation was Circuit Judge John Galluzzo. He, though, could not accept the case because he formerly practiced law with Zimmerman's attorney,
O'Mara is also the godfather of one of Galluzzo's four children.
So Galluzzo stepped aside, passing the case to the next judge: Lester.
Bond hearing. It'll start at 9 a.m. Friday ..
Lester, 58, was elected judge in 1996 by challenging an incumbent.
He is popular with attorneys, including Wayne Klinkbeil, who was an assistant public defender assigned to Lester's courtroom in 1997. Lester, he said, is a very good judge.
He is consistent and a tough sentencer, Klinkbeil said, "very in control of his courtroom, very straightforward."
In court, Lester is very by-the-book. He calls defendants "sir," and expects people to be on time. On Jan. 18, 2005, he had at least three defendants taken into custody when they showed up for court late.
The judge's daughter, Alexandra Lester, 26, a member of the Florida Bar, said she has never saw her father agonize over a ruling.
"He basically told me it should not be hard to make the right decision if you follow the law," she said.