On Friday, November 7, 2025, Darkhorse Press reported that a Louisiana District Attorney’s office formally requested the recusal of the presiding judge, Larry Jefferson, in the murder trial of Quinton Tellis.
The motion, submitted on October 27 by Assistant District Attorney Holly Jones, alleges bias and personal animosity on the part of Judge Jefferson towards the prosecution, raising concerns about his ability to conduct a fair and impartial trial. The legal basis for the motion rests on the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Articles 671A and B.
Quinton Tellis is accused of the 2016 death of Meing Chen Hsaio. He is also a primary suspect in the 2014 burning death of Jessica Chambers in Panola County, Mississippi, where two previous trials resulted in hung juries. The possibility of a third trial in Mississippi remains uncertain.
Court records indicate that the Louisiana case against Tellis has been ongoing since July 7, 2016, marked by numerous trial dates that have been repeatedly set and subsequently rescheduled. Among these were dates in 2022 and a scheduled trial for December 1, 2025.
The prosecution’s motion cites Judge Jefferson’s prior rulings in unrelated criminal cases as evidence of bias. Specifically, the motion highlights instances where appellate courts overturned Judge Jefferson’s decisions. These cases include State v. Barnett, where a second-degree murder conviction was downgraded to manslaughter, and sentencing was scheduled prior to appellate review, requiring interventions from higher courts.
State v. Thomas was also cited, where the judge acquitted a defendant of kidnapping and armed robbery charges despite DNA evidence presented by the State. The final case cited was State v. Nabors, where a jury verdict of second-degree murder was modified by the judge to negligent homicide, a ruling later reversed by appellate courts.
The motion further alleges that Judge Jefferson has demonstrated personal animosity toward the Assistant District Attorney, citing instances of public admonishments, accusations of acting in “bad faith,” and other actions the prosecution claims were intended to humiliate prosecutors during court hearings. The State argues that this behavior could potentially influence the outcome of Tellis’ trial.
In response, Judge Jefferson denied the recusal motion, asserting that the State failed to provide sufficient evidence of bias or prejudice. He argued that the prior cases cited by the State are unrelated to the Tellis case. Judge Jefferson also pointed out that the motion was filed beyond the 30-day period allowed under Louisiana law for recusal motions, given that the last substantive ruling in the case occurred in October 2022.
Judge Jefferson further criticized the motion, stating that the Assistant DA’s conduct in the courtroom, including interruptions and arguing after rulings, contributed to tension. He clarified that his directive to check on Tellis’ transfer from Mississippi does not constitute grounds for recusal. “Any ruling in prior cases does not constitute a basis for recusal in this matter,” the court wrote in its ruling denying the motion.
Source: Darkhorse Press
