Posted on 06/18/2009 4:17:54 PM PDT by Paleo Conservative
CORPUS CHRISTI — Jim Wells County District Judge Richard Terrell has been appointed to oversee the criminal cases against former law firm operator Mauricio Celis.
J. Manuel Bañales, presiding judge over the fifth administrative region, signed an order this week appointing Terrell to the case.
Bañales removed visiting Judge Mark Luitjen in May after defense attorneys argued he showed at least the appearance of bias against Celis. Bañales had appointed Luitjen, a former Bexar County district judge, in late 2007 after two local district judges recused themselves from hearing the case.
Bañales oversaw Celis’ sentencing hearing May 18 on his conviction of falsely holding himself out as a lawyer. Celis received 10 years probation and has appealed the verdict.
He faces three more trials in Nueces County on charges of theft, money laundering and impersonating a peace officer, and one charge in Zapata County of aggravated perjury.
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