Judge removes himself from case of Fla. mother charged with killing toddler reported missing

Judge removes self from toddler mom’s murder case

ORLANDO, Fla. — A Florida judge in the Casey Anthony murder trial is taking himself off the case.

Circuit Judge Stan Strickland granted a motion Monday filed by Anthony’s attorneys asking that he recuse himself.

Anthony’s defense attorneys had argued that comments the judge made to a blogger recently showed he was prejudiced against Anthony.

In his decision, Strickland denied doing anything wrong. But he says he is removing himself from the case because Anthony’s attorneys likely would allege bias each time he ruled against their motions.

The 24-year-old Anthony has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and has said a baby sitter kidnapped her daughter, Caylee. The toddler’s remains were found in December 2008, six months after she was reported missing.