On Tuesday, November 4, 2025, WBRZ reported that Judge Gail Horne Ray of the 19th Judicial District Court (JDC) in Louisiana has been recused from presiding over the trial of Casen Carver, one of four individuals implicated in the alleged rape of Madison Brooks in January 2023. The recusal stems from concerns about Judge Ray’s impartiality, triggered by text messages exchanged between Carver and his father.
District Attorney Hillar Moore clarified that the recusal request was not based on the past controversy surrounding Judge Ray’s son, Nelson Dan Taylor, who is a convicted serial rapist. Instead, the motion to recuse was prompted by the content of the text messages, in which Carver expressed the belief that Judge Ray would be favorable to his case due to her son’s history. One text message cited in the motion stated, “her son was accused of rape a while back so she knows to help us.”
Judge Brad Myers, who presided over the recusal decision, emphasized the “particularly concerning” nature of these communications in his ruling. While the state’s initial concern revolved around Judge Ray’s prior exposure to the case, specifically her overturned ruling allowing Brooks’ sexual history to be presented at trial, the text messages ultimately swayed the decision. Moore argued that even though the ruling was overturned, the information was already in Judge Ray’s mind.
Judge Myers acknowledged that the evidence alone might not have warranted recusal, but the combination of the evidence and the text messages left him with no alternative.
Defense attorney Joe Long issued a statement expressing disagreement with the recusal ruling, noting that Judge Myers found no actual bias or prejudice on Judge Ray’s part. Long indicated the defense team’s intention to seek supervisory writs, anticipating further appeals to the Court of Appeals and potentially the Supreme Court of Louisiana.
The case revolves around the events of January 15, 2023, when Madison Brooks, a 19-year-old LSU student, left Reggie’s Bar with Carver, Kaivon Washington, Desmond Carter, and Everett Lee. According to arrest documents, Washington and Carter allegedly raped Brooks in the backseat of Carver’s vehicle. The men then transported Brooks to an address in the Pelican Lakes subdivision, where she was later struck and killed by a rideshare driver after wandering into the roadway.
Washington, Carter, and Carver were subsequently arrested. Carver faces charges of first-degree rape, third-degree rape, and video voyeurism, despite the absence of evidence indicating he had direct sexual contact with Brooks.
Judge Fred Crifasi has been appointed to replace Judge Ray and preside over Carver’s trial, which is scheduled to begin on December 1.
Source: WBRZ
