This photo provided by the Tulsa County District Court shows District Judge James Caputo. Caputo, who is assigned to the case of a volunteer deputy accused of manslaughter in the shooting of a restrained suspect, said in a court filing Wednesday, April 22, 2015 that he is considering whether to recuse himself due to his close ties to the Tulsa, Oklahoma, sheriff's office. (Tulsa County District Court via AP) (The Associated Press)
TULSA, Okla. – A Tulsa County judge who is assigned to the case of a volunteer deputy accused of manslaughter in the shooting of a restrained man says he is weighing recusal over his close ties to the sheriff's office.
District Court Judge James Caputo told the Tulsa World (http://bit.ly/1bl61Bb ) Wednesday that he hopes to decide by Friday whether to continue with the case. Caputo was randomly assigned to the case and says no one has asked him to recuse.
Caputo says he worked for the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office for about seven years and that his daughter is an employee there.
The Associated Press left a message with Caputo's office seeking comment Thursday.
Reserve deputy Robert Bates has pleaded not guilty to second-degree manslaughter in the April 2 death of Eric Harris.
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