Florida School Mass Shooter Nikolas Cruz’s Attorneys Seek Judge’s Removal From Case

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Nikolas Cruz at the defense table just before his defense team announced their intention to rest their case during the penalty phase of Cruz's trial at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, on Sept. 14, 2022. Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel via AP, Pool

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.—Attorneys for Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz asked for the judge in his murder case to remove herself on Friday, two days after she scolded them when they abruptly rested their case after calling only a fraction of their expected witnesses.

The Broward Public Defender’s Office said in a motion that Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer held a longstanding animosity toward lead defense lawyer Melisa McNeill.