Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood has put off his decision on whether to grant new trials - again - for two of the defendants charged in the murders of Channon Christian and Chris Newsom.
The couple was carjacked, raped and murdered in January 2007.
The judge, in an order filed June 20, had originally set August 17 as the date for his decision on the retrials as well as an October 8 date for deciding on his recusal.
Prosecutors have asked Judge Blackwood to step down from the cases, arguing he has become too emotionally involved and can no longer fairly preside over the trials.
Last month, the state filed a new motion seeking the judge's recusal, citing a new law that went into effect July 1. That law requires a judge to first decide on any recusal before ruling on other issues in a case.
It appears Judge Blackwood has agreed with that assessment and has put off his August 17 decision.
The judge notified the affected parties in a letter, according to multiple sources who confirmed the information with 10News.
There's no word on when the judge may again take up the issue of the retrials.
Two other defendants, George Thomas and Vanessa Coleman, are not affected by these motions.