Spencer J Letts

The judge hearing a lawsuit that accuses the LAPD's Special Investigations Section of indiscriminate killings disqualified himself Thursday, saying he could no longer tolerate the unwarranted attacks on his integrity by defense attorneys. In a written opinion, replete with expressions of personal hurt, U.S. District Judge J. Spencer Letts accused the lawyers for the city of effectively hounding him off the case "through the use of things taken out of context, omissions and outright falsehoods."

The judge hearing a lawsuit that accuses the LAPD's Special Investigations Section of indiscriminate killings disqualified himself Thursday, saying he could no longer tolerate the unwarranted attacks on his integrity by defense attorneys. In a written opinion, replete with expressions of personal hurt, U.S. District Judge J. Spencer Letts accused the lawyers for the city of effectively hounding him off the case "through the use of things taken out of context, omissions and outright falsehoods."

Four federal judges have refused to hear a lawsuit against the Los Angeles Police Department after their colleague withdrew from the case, citing his disdain for city lawyers who had suggested he was biased. Dean D. Pregerson, Nora M. Manella, Ronald S.W. Lew and William D. Keller gave various reasons why they cannot hear the politically charged case, which involves the LAPD's controversial Special Investigations Section.