Judge in King Trial Refuses to Quit Case

Under fire from defense attorneys for alleged bias, the judge in the Rodney G. King beating case refused to disqualify himself Friday and said he will fight to keep the trial from being reassigned to another judge.

“I’m not biased or prejudiced against any party in this case in any way, shape or form,” Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Bernard Kamins told the four defendants and their lawyers, who were assembled in his courtroom for a brief hearing on the status of the case.

“In fact, I think the lawyers have done a good job on all sides. . . . I have commended them many times during the proceedings.”

Defense attorneys charged earlier this week that Kamins’ actions show a pattern of bias, and that he has allowed his concerns about publicity and expediency to interfere with sound legal decisions. They asked that he be removed from the case, in which four Los Angeles police officers face trial for assault and excessive force in the March 3 beating.

Kamins said he will submit a written response to the allegations before Wednesday, when Superior Court Judge Gary Klausner, supervising judge of the downtown criminal division, will name another judge to determine whether Kamins should stay or go.

Kamins, sounding subdued in the wake of the formal request for his removal, reluctantly and temporarily transferred the case to Klausner, conceding that “at this point” he is powerless.

“Right now, the court is in the position of having one foot in the Court of Appeal on the change of venue motion and now the other foot is in the . . . challenge, the request for (Kamins’) disqualification.”

The 2nd District Court of Appeal has halted all proceedings toward trial pending its ruling on whether Kamins erred in refusing to move the case to another county.

While that issue remained unresolved, defense dissatisfaction with Kamins surfaced after he sent a letter to the appellate court last month reversing his earlier decision and offering to relocate the trial to avoid a delay, although he said he still feels such a move unnecessary to a fair trial.

When prosecutors reacted with surprise and a sense of betrayal--Kamins had already ruled twice in their favor on the question--the judge sent his law clerk upstairs to tell them, “Don’t panic. You can trust me,” court records show.

Defense attorneys said the secret message, which they learned about from prosecutors, was improper and demonstrated Kamins’ bias.