MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Two former Memphis Police Officers who were convicted of federal charges in the death of Tyre Nichols are set to appear in court Tuesday morning.
Former officers, Desmond Mills and Emmitt Martin, had already received a delay in their sentencing. Mills’ sentencing was scheduled for June 23, and Martin got a short delay in state court after his attorney cited mental considerations.
But a change in Federal judges affects what will now happen with their case.
This comes after Judge Mark Norris recused himself from the case on Friday.
The judge didn’t give a reason why he decided to remove himself after the high-profile trial he presided over for almost a month back in the fall, and why he made his surprising decision just three days before the first of the former officers was to be sentenced.
Judge Sheryl Lipman is listed as the new judge to take over the case. It will likely take a while for her to get up to speed on the particulars of the case and the weeks of testimony.
Several sealed motions have also been filed regarding the proceedings, and those motions must be heard.
The sentence hearings for Tadarrius Bean, Justin Smith, and Demetrius Haley were supposed to begin this week, but they are now cancelled.
Martin and Mills also still have to be sentenced on the State side after they pleaded guilty.
Bean, Smith, and Haley were all acquitted in State court.
