Judge Decision Postpones AU Murder Case AUBURN, AL (APR - Alabama Public Radio ) - All proceedings in the murder case against Courtney Lockhart have been postponed until an Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals ruling on whether to replace the judge in the case.

Lee County Judge Jacob A. Walker III refused to recuse, or remove, himself from the case in an order released Monday.

Jeremy Armstrong, attorney for Lockhart, recently requested that Walker recuse himself and all Lee County judges on the basis of possible appearance of partiality.

Walker suspended all proceedings in the case until the appeals court made a decision.

Lockhart is charged with the March 4 murder of Auburn freshman Lauren Burk of Marietta, Ga.

The 23-year-old is charged with capital murder during a kidnapping, capital murder during a robbery and capital murder during an attempted rape.

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