The judge expected to preside over the sexual assault trial of a former Baylor football player recused himself on Monday.
The trial for Shawn Oakman who was indicted on sexual assaultcharges after being accused of raping a woman in 2016 was initially scheduled for this week.
The recusal of 19th District Judge Ralph Strother comes after the defense attorney for Oakman filed a motion calling for his recusal.
Strother was the judge who accepted a plea deal in the sexual assault case of Jacob Anderson. Strother granted deferred adjudication for the former Baylor fraternity president pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.
Now, a visiting judge is expected to take over the case and decide whether the District Attorney's Office should continue prosecuting the case. The defense also filed a motion to disqualify the DA's Office from the case.
The jury selection, which was initially going to start on Monday, was postponed to Tuesday in light of the recent events.
Earlier this month, the defense asked the judge to change the venue of the trial but Strother delayed the decision until jury selection.
