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Players sent to five differnet judges
PONTIAC, Mich. -- Cases against five Indiana Pacers players charged in one of the worst brawls in U.S. sports history will be reassigned among several judges, according to a court ruling Wednesday.
Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Fred Mester agreed with arguments from defense lawyers that the players' cases had been improperly assigned en masse to one judge instead of randomly distributed among several judges.
The trials for the players involved in the November brawl at the Pacers-Detroit Pistons game were scheduled to begin Aug. 1, starting with Ron Artest, before Judge Lisa Asadoorian of the 52nd District Court in Rochester Hills.
Wednesday's decision could delay those trials, defense lawyers said.
In addition to Artest, Anthony Johnson, David Harrison, Jermaine O'Neal and Stephen Jackson are charged in the case. The players and several fans awaiting trial are charged with misdemeanor assault and battery.
The Nov. 19 brawl at The Palace started after Pistons center Ben Wallace shoved Artest following a hard foul. After they were separated, Artest was doused with a beverage. He then rushed into the stands and began beating a man he thought had thrown the drink. Some of his teammates joined him in the stands and clashed with fans on the court.
This is from ESPN.com
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Players sent to five differnet judges
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