Judge In Thompson Trial To Remain

Friday, June 16th 2006, 4:02 pm

By: News On 6

BRISTOW, Okla. (AP) -- A Washington County judge today denies a defense motion to remove the judge overseeing the indecent exposure trial of former Creek County Judge Donald Thompson. Defense attorneys for Thompson had sought to remove Special
Judge C- Allen McCall from presiding over one misdemeanor count Thompson faces for allegedly having lewd photos on a state-owned computer.

The 59-year-old Thompson also faces four felony charges of exposing himself in Creek County District Court while presiding over four trials in 2002 and 2003. Meanwhile, Thompson's attorneys have filed a separate appeal arguing the misdemeanor statute regarding misuse of state computers is vague and unconstitutional. That appeal is pending before the Court of Criminal Appeals, which indicated it would issue a
decision by noon Monday.

A jury for Thompson's trial already has been seated, and opening arguments in the case tentatively are scheduled to begin Monday afternoon.