State District Judge Pat Phelan on Monday granted a motion to disqualify the District Attorney for Hockley and Cochran counties, Christopher Dennis, from prosecuting seven cases.
The cases will instead be handled by a special prosecutor.
The seven all had the same defense attorney, Christina L. Woods.
Dennis said by phone that he withdrew plea bargain offers to Woods’ clients and Woods “made it personal.”
Woods saw it differently. She said she filed a motion to disqualify Dennis because of prosecutorial vindictiveness.
Woods said she requested Dennis be removed from 14 cases, but only seven of the defendants showed up for court on Monday. Those were the seven who got their motion granted by the judge.
The judge appointed County Attorney Anna Hord as the special prosecutor.
