The ‘Wrong’ Judge?

A Texas judge was removed from the criminal case of former Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas, in November 2005 after DeLay complained that the judge had contributed too much money to Democratic campaigns. Judges in Texas run for office and routinely contribute to both Republican and Democratic campaigns. But DeLay’s lawyer argued that this judge, Bob Perkins, had “created the appearance of bias,” and shouldn’t hear the case.

“We are not saying Judge Perkins is an unfair or a bad judge,” lawyer Dick DeGuerin said. “What we are saying is this is the wrong case for Judge Perkins to judge, for his long and permissible activity as a Democrat and partisan for Democratic causes.”

Does that mean only Republican judges may judge Republicans, and only Democrats may judge Democrats?