Her Mentor Sent Richard Glossip to Death Row. Can She Give Him a Fair Trial?

[Children of t]

Judge's Ties to Prosecutors Could Taint Richard Glossip's High-Profile Trial

A judge presiding over a high-profile murder case, Richard Glossip, has found herself at the center of a controversy surrounding her ties to prosecutors who sent him to death row. Judge Susan Stallings, a former prosecutor in Oklahoma County, is now facing questions about whether she can remain impartial in the case.

Stallings made a startling admission during a closed-door proceeding, stating that she had taken a trip with Fern Smith, the lead prosecutor in Glossip's original case, in 1997. The trip was part of a group outing for prosecutors and judges from the Oklahoma County District Attorney's Office, Stallings claimed. However, her explanation has raised eyebrows among Glossip's lawyers, who argue that the judge's relationship with Smith could compromise her impartiality.

Glossip's defense team has filed a motion to recuse Stallings from the case, citing concerns about her connections to former prosecutors Fern Smith and David Prater, who both worked in Oklahoma County. Stallings had previously praised Smith as a mentor and praised Prater's work ethic during her time at the DA's office.

Stallings' connection to Smith was already known to Glossip's lawyers, but they had not previously pushed for her recusal from the case. However, after the Oklahoma Attorney General announced plans to retry Glossip in September 2025, Stallings' team filed a new motion, citing concerns about her impartiality.

At an evidentiary hearing on October 30, Stallings will be questioned about her relationships with Smith and Prater, as well as whether she can remain impartial in the case. Glossip's lawyers argue that Stallings' ties to prosecutors could undermine the public's trust in the justice system and create a perception of bias.

The Oklahoma Supreme Court has established a standard for recusal in cases where a judge's impartiality may be questioned. According to this standard, "appearances matter" – meaning that even if a judge does not have personal biases, their appearance of bias can still impact the trial.

This standard is rooted in the need to preserve the legitimacy of the justice system and maintain public trust. However, concerns about Stallings' impartiality have sparked controversy in Oklahoma City, where the DA's office has faced criticism for its handling of Glossip's case.

Stallings will have to navigate these complex questions at an evidentiary hearing on October 30. If she is found not to be impartial, Glossip's lawyers could argue that he cannot receive a fair trial under her supervision. The stakes are high, as the outcome of this trial could determine Glossip's fate – or whether justice will truly be served in Oklahoma City.

 

[Wild Wolf]

can't believe they're questioning a judge's credibility like this... sounds super fishy to me that she took a trip with the prosecutor who sent her client to death row, what's up with that? anyway, i think it's always better to err on the side of caution when it comes to recusals in high-profile cases. transparency is key, right?

 

[Prehistoric B]

Can you imagine being on the bench and your BFF from law school is the DA? No wonder she's getting roasted for not recusing herself from Richard Glossip's case! It's like, no matter how hard she tries to deny it, her ties to Fern Smith are still gonna raise some eyebrows. The fact that she called her a "mentor" and raved about her work ethic just makes this situation even more sketchy .

I mean, I'm all for judges being connected to prosecutors, but when you're the one presiding over a murder trial, it's gotta be clear that you can separate your personal feelings from the case. And honestly, "appearances matter" is like, so true in this situation . If she doesn't recuse herself, it could totally undermine trust in the justice system and create a whole mess.

I don't think Stallings stands a chance at the evidentiary hearing on Oct 30 . Glossip's lawyers are gonna go all out to prove that her relationships with Smith and Prater make her biased, and I gotta say, they're not wrong . Time will tell if justice will be served in Oklahoma City

 

[Upset Unic]

I just read about this judge who's presiding over Richard Glossip's trial and I gotta say... it's like, pretty concerning . I mean, she used to work as a prosecutor and now she's on the bench? That's a conflict of interest if you ask me. And what's with these ties to prosecutors who sent Glossip to death row? It seems like a recipe for bias . I'm no expert, but from where I'm sitting, it looks like Stallings' impartiality is being called into question and that's a big deal. The public trusts their judges to be fair and unbiased, so if that trust is broken... well, you know what happens . It's like, we're all waiting to see how this plays out on October 30 . Hopefully, justice will prevail and Glossip gets a fair shake .

 

[Fair Fox]

I'm low-key worried about this, fam . Like, I get it, judges and prosecutors have to work together sometimes, but come on, a judge who's friends with the lead prosecutor? That's just sketchy, you feel? It's not even about being impartial, it's about having any semblance of objectivity at all. If this Judge Stallings can't even pretend to be neutral in front of us, how can we trust her judgment on Glossip's case? The whole thing just reeks of a setup, you know? And don't even get me started on the fact that she was praised by Smith herself as some sort of mentor... yeah right, like that's gonna fly. I'm all for Stallings trying to defend her actions, but at the end of the day, Glossip needs a fair shot, not some judge with ties to the DA's office messing up his trial.

 

[Defi]

omg i just can't believe judge susan stalling's connections to prosecutors fern smith & david prater are being questioned now. like, aren't they already part of the problem? i mean, we're talking about a judge who was once a prosecutor herself! how can she be impartial in her own case? it just doesn't add up. and let's not forget that stalling even praised smith as a mentor... wut is wrong with these people?! this trial just got a whole lot more interesting, imo. will stalling recuse herself or try to brush off the concerns? only time'll tell

 

[Grumpy]

I don't know how can judges have friends with prosecutors and still preside over cases impartially . It just doesn't sit right with me. I mean, I get it, connections are what they are, but sometimes you gotta wonder if that's gonna affect their decisions in the courtroom. Like, what if Susan Stallings remembers something from her trip with Fern Smith that makes her think Glossip is guilty? That's not cool. And it's not just about justice, it's about trust - can we really trust judges to make fair decisions when they've got ties to the people on trial? I hope Stallings has a good explanation for this and can convince everyone she's impartial, but if not...

 

[Bewildered Badger]

I think it's super convenient that Stallings is getting scrutinized about her "ties" to prosecutors now that there's a high-profile case at stake . Like, what's the real issue here? She worked with them before and thinks they're cool, big whoop! And now she gets to be questioned about it like she's some kinda impartial robot . I mean, come on, can't we just focus on Glossip's actual guilt or innocence instead of making a mountain out of a molehill? It's all just a bunch of drama and politicking . Stallings should just be able to do her job without all this fuss .

 

[Bored]

I mean, who wouldn't trust a judge with ties to prosecutors? It's not like it's a huge conflict of interest or anything... But seriously, can you imagine how the public would react if they found out that the judge in Glossip's case had basically been buddies with one of the lead prosecutors from day one? I guess it just goes to show that the justice system is all about appearance over substance.

 

[Internat]

"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." We need to focus on finding a solution that benefits everyone involved, rather than just placing blame. It's time for transparency and accountability, especially when it comes to the justice system.

 

[Kabuki Th]

Judge Stallings' ties to prosecutors Fern Smith and David Prater raise red flags about impartiality . Even if she doesn't have personal biases, her relationships could still impact the trial. This is a classic case of appearance vs reality . The public's trust in the justice system should be the top priority . A fair trial is not just about the law, but also about the perception of fairness . Stallings needs to prove herself impartial at the evidentiary hearing on Oct 30 . Anything less could mean Glossip doesn't get a fair shot at justice

 

[Dwarven Aerobics Aren]

I mean, can't we trust our judges to make impartial decisions anymore? This whole thing with Judge Stallings and her connections to prosecutors is just a recipe for disaster . It's like she's already guilty of bias in the eyes of Glossip's lawyers. And what really gets me is that she's only now raising concerns about her ties when it's too late . The fact that she took a trip with one of the prosecutors who sent Glossip to death row in 1997 should've been grounds for recusal from the start . Now we're just going to have to sit back and wait for an evidentiary hearing to see if she can convince us otherwise . It's like a never-ending loop of judicial dysfunction .

 

[Forgotten]

I mean, come on , judges have connections to prosecutors and it's not like it's a new thing. It's not like she's best buds with Smith or something. A trip here and there doesn't make her biased towards Glossip. And let's be real, the DA's office has been getting heat for how they handled Glossip's case in the first place . Stallings' connections to former prosecutors aren't unique to this case, it's just a normal part of being a prosecutor and judge.

I also think it's funny that Glossip's lawyers are making such a big deal about this now. They're only bringing it up because they want Stallings recused from the case and it's going to give them leverage to try and get a more favorable outcome for their client . It's just politics as usual, you know? The whole "appearances matter" thing is just a fancy way of saying that judges can't be friends with prosecutors because, well, it looks bad . But let's not pretend like it's never happened before or that it's a huge deal now.

 

[Excited Ea]

This case with Judge Susan Stallings is super suspicious... she was a prosecutor like Fern Smith, who sent Richard Glossip to death row in the first place! And now she gets to preside over his retrial? That's just too much of a coincidence for me. I mean, what if her trip with Smith in 1997 was more than just a group outing? What if they had some kind of secret handshake or something ... Just think about it, the same people who put Glossip on death row are now making sure he gets a fair trial. It's like they're playing a game of whack-a-mole with justice... and we're all just watching in horror

 

[Cheerful Cheetah]

Come on, folks! A judge with ties to prosecutors? It's like they're trying out for a role in "The Godfather" instead of being impartial judges . I mean, if she was that close to them back in 1997, is it really a surprise that her recusal motion came out now? Like, what were they waiting for? The Oklahoma Attorney General's announcement? Please, it's like they're trying to say "Hey, we know you're biased, let's just give up already!"

But seriously, this whole situation is a mess. I'm not saying Stallings isn't capable of being impartial, but it's hard to shake off the feeling that she might be putting her old prosecutor buddy in a better light than she should. It's like, can we trust our judges? Can we trust the system?

I guess what I'm trying to say is, let's just hope this whole thing gets sorted out before it's too late... for Glossip, at least . Let's get to the bottom of this and make sure justice is served, one way or another .