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Judge Won't Step Down in Arkansas Police Shooting Case

 Judge Wendell Griffen

A judge says he won't step down from a case involving a former Little Rock police officer accused of killing a teenager.

Judge Wendell Griffen issued an order on Thursday denying a number of motions, including one to disqualify him in the case of former Little Rock police officer Josh Hastings.

Hastings' attorney, Bill James, filed a motion on Monday seeking to disqualify Griffen.

James said Griffen has been outspoken against Little Rock police officers and their use of firearms on minorities, and James says that's the issue in Hastings' case.

However, Griffen says his statements don't suggest "antipathy toward law enforcement officers."

Hastings is charged in the shooting death of 15-year-old Bobby Moore III.

A jury deadlocked in June and Hastings' retrial is scheduled to start Sept. 16.