New judge named in Zimmerman case

SANFORD, Fla. — A new judge was named to take over the George Zimmerman case Thursday afternoon.

Seminole County Circuit Court Judge Debra Nelson was named to replace Kenneth Lester.

Lester was told to remove himself from the case by the Fifth District Court of Appeal Wednesday.

Two of the three judges agreed with the defense's assertion that Lester demonstrated a bias against George Zimmerman when he accused Zimmerman of taking advantage of the legal system in a bond order.

Nelson is the third judge who has been appointed to this case.

Nelson is known as a tough judge. WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer said she leans toward the prosecution.

Nelson, a former prosecutor who has been on the bench in Seminole County for 23 years, will now take over the Zimmerman second-degree murder case.

Zimmerman claims he was defending himself when he shot and killed Trayvon Martin, 17, six months ago because Martin was pounding his Zimmerman's head on the sidewalk.

One of Nelson's first decisions could be whether to give prosecutors more of Zimmerman's medical records.

The defense said it has already provided the relevant records that show Zimmerman had a broken nose and a head wound.

Lester recently gave Zimmerman permission to leave Seminole county to visit his attorney Orlando, with prior approval. But he denied Zimmerman's request to move out of the county.

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