Circuit Court Judge David Laser Appointed in West Memphis 3 Case

The Associated Press reports that Circuit Court Judge David Laser will preside over the hearings for Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley (the West Memphis 3). 

Last month, the Arkansas Supreme Court ordered that there be a new evidentiary hearings in light of the proper interpretation of the relevant statutes. See UPDATED: Arkansas Supreme Court: West Memphis 3 Cases Reversed and Remanded.  The Arkansas Supreme Court ordered the circuit court to consider new DNA evidence and other evidence to determine whether Echols, Baldwin, and Miskelley are entitled to a new trial. 

The circuit court judge who had previously resided over these cases, David Burnett, was recently elected to the state Senate.

–Tasha Taylor