Janelle Haverkamp

Janelle Haverkamp, judge of Cooke County's 235th District Court in Texas, was ordered recused from nearly 400 cases by the region's Presiding Judge after current District Attorney John Warren argued the public would reasonably doubt her fairness given her own history as the prosecuting district attorney in the case of Michael Newberry. A court later recommended a new trial for Newberry, who had been convicted of capital murder, after finding that Haverkamp — as DA at the time — had failed to turn over exculpatory evidence to his defense.

The recusal order covers all civil cases handled by the current DA's office, plus protective orders and asset forfeiture cases, and remains in effect as long as Warren holds the office; Haverkamp remains eligible to preside over family law and other civil disputes. Haverkamp has disputed the recusal, calling Warren's involvement part of a political vendetta against her and noting she has filed her own criminal complaints against his office with the Texas Rangers.