Facebook Messages Prompt Judge to Recuse Self

A judge has recused himself from a former deputy’s domestic assault case because he received Facebook messages from the officer’s wife.

Former Berkeley County sheriff’s deputy Robert Lippman is charged with assaulting his wife and threatening to shoot her.

The Herald-Mail reports that Berkeley County Circuit Court Judge John C. Yoder released a copy of messages he received from Lippman’s wife to attorneys in the case at hearing in October. He said he did not respond to the messages.

On the day before Lippman’s arraignment, his wife sent Yoder a message saying she wanted the case to be over and “my husband get better.”

Yoder filed an order Oct. 22 voluntarily recusing himself. The order says the appearance of judicial neutrality would be best served by his recusal.