Tiger basketball player Jeremy Hunt was back in court Monday morning as proceedings for his domestic assault case continued.Tamika Rogers, Hunt's ex-girlfriend, claims Hunt assaulted her on Jan. 10, at her residence.
Arriving just before 9:30 a.m., Hunt entered Judge Ann Pugh's Division 7 General Sessions Criminal Court and was joined by defense attorney Leslie Ballin minutes later.
Judge Pugh filed an order of disqualification and recusal from hearing Hunt's case "in order to avoid the appearance of impropriety and to promote public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of this court."
Judge Pugh was a mentor to the Lady Tigers basketball team while Hunt's ex-girlfriend, complainant Tamika Rogers, was a member of the squad.
"After seeing her photograph in the paper and on television, I realized that I was acquainted with her even though I have not seen her in several years," Pugh's statement said. "Therefore, because my impartiality in this proceeding might reasonably be questioned by some members of the public, I feel I must disqualify myself based on canon 2.A and canon 3.E (1) of the code of judicial conduct."
As Hunt and his parents exited the courtroom, Ballin commented on the development.
"Judge Pugh has entered an order of recusal and asked that this case be transferred to another division," Ballin said. "Jeremy is not receiving preferential treatment or any treatment that he should not be receiving."
Pugh's order detailed the instructions on transferring the case to another division court.
"The General Sessions Court Clerk's office is directed to randomly and without knowledge of the specific case reassign this case to another General Sessions Criminal Court," Pugh's order said.
Hunt's trial will now begin on April 5 with Judge Joyce C. Broffitt presiding in Division 9 General Sessions Criminal Court.
"Jeremy continues to be an active participant on The University of Memphis basketball team," Ballin said. "We have entered a not guilty plea."
Ballin declined further comment on details of the case as he left the courtroom with Hunt.
Tamika Rogers, who claims that Hunt assaulted her, played for the Lady Tigers during the 1999 to 2002 seasons. She missed the 2000-2001 season because of a knee injury.
Regular season play for The U of M men's basketball team ends on March 5.
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