Judge won't remove DA from trial in Will Smith's shooting death

The high-profile case against Cardell Hayes in the killing of former New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith will continue with the District Attorney’s office at the helm.

Judge Camille Buras denied Defense Attorney John Fuller’s motion to recuse the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office from the case.

Judge Buras said that DA recusal is “the most dramatic measure” she can take and Fuller did not carry the burden of proof.

Fuller tried to get DA Leon Canizarro’s office removed from the case, arguing that the office can’t be fair to him or his client.

At the heart of that recusal motion is a document painstakingly compiled by the office of District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro. It lays out a case of serious misconduct against Fuller, including accusations of witness tampering, misrepresentation and exposing confidential informants.

The trial date is now set for Nov. 2, pushed back from its original date of Sept. 20.

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