Trial judge recuses herself in George Zimmerman murder case

George Zimmerman (Gary Green/Pool) A 15-year veteran of the bench, Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester Jr., will be taking over duties at the trial judge in the Trayvon Martin killing in Sanford, Florida. George Zimmerman has been charged with second-degree murder in the case. He is in custody in Seminole County and faces a bail hearing before Lester on Friday. The case:

was originally assigned to Circuit Judge Jessica Recksiedler, but she recused herself today after Zimmerman's attorney asked her to step aside because of a possible conflict of interest: Her husband is the law partner of Mark NeJame, who's been hired to comment on the case for CNN.

All criminal cases in Seminole County are assigned by chance, based on a rotation system. Next up in that rotation was Circuit Judge John Galluzzo. He, though, could not accept the case because he formerly practiced law with Zimmerman's attorney, Mark O'Mara.

O'Mara is also the godfather of one of Galluzzo's four children.

Zimmerman faces a sentence of up to life in prison if he is convicted.

The 58-year-old Lester won election against an incumbent judge in 1997. The Orlando Sentinel says he is popular among attorneys and known for moving cases along quickly. A U.S. Navy veteran who served in the Vietnam era, he earned a degree in accounting, then went to law school at the University of Florida.