Marjorie Knoller At Her 2002 Trial

She was convicted of second degree murder in the killing of Dianne Whipple.

Judge Warren From The First Trial

He forbad any evidence on bestiality, and overturned the verdict.

Judge Assigns Case To Neutral Judge

In March of 2008, the Presiding Judge David Ballati said "logistical problems and issues" had convinced him the matter should be handled in house.
 

The Original Judge Was Judge Warren

"All I told Judge Ballati was that I could do it more efficiently than any other judge," Warren said. "I've lived with that case for five years and I know exactly what happened at the trial and have a pretty good idea where I need to go to find the relevant testimony."

Judge Warren threw out the jury's verdict of murder two, and gave Marjorie Knoller two years at a level three country club prison. He was ask to resign.
 

Judge Tsenin

Supervising criminal Judge Kay Tsenin, who controls the assignment calendar, had leaned toward letting Warren retry the case. It is assumed her Jewish/Russian background favored Knoller.  

District Attorney Haddix

Deputy Attorney General Amy Haddix, who is working on the case was glad the case was assigned to Judge Charlotte Woolard.

Knoller's Attorney

Knoller's appellate attorney, Dennis Riordan wants Warren as the judge. He objected at the February hearing to the case being sent to Woolard, and asked for a hearing with Ballati. A new-trial motion always goes back to the original trial judge, he said.