On Saturday, May 30, 2026, WBRZ reported that the Louisiana Supreme Court overturned the recusal of a judge overseeing the trial of a man accused of raping Madison Brooks.
The judge, Gail Horne Ray, was removed from the case last fall following the emergence of text messages. In these messages, the accused, Casen Carver, allegedly described Ray as being “on our side” and someone who “knows how to help us.”
Initially, the 1st Circuit Court of Appeal had stated that while the judge’s rulings and her exposure to potentially prejudicial information about Brooks’ sexual history might not warrant recusal, removing her from the case was the most prudent course of action.
Judge Brad Myers, deeming the messages “particularly concerning,” had decided to remove Ray at the state’s request. Carver’s lawyer had indicated that an appeal to the state Supreme Court was likely if their side lost at the appeals court level.
In its recent ruling, the Supreme Court reversed the decision, reinstating Judge Ray to Carver’s case. The court stated, “We find that the State has failed to carry its burden to require recusal in this case.”
Consequently, the trial court’s ruling has been reversed, and the matter is remanded for further proceedings.
Source: WBRZ
