On Thursday, July 25, 2024, NewsWatch 12 reported that Kelly Ravassipour, a judge on the Jackson County Circuit Court in Oregon, recused from presiding over the case of former nurse Brittany Schofield, who faces 44 felony counts of assault.
Schofield is accused of diverting the painkiller fentanyl that was intended for patients and replacing it with tap water while working in the intensive care unit at Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford, Oregon. Her actions allegedly led to infections in 44 patients. Sixteen of those patients have since passed away.
The case against Schofield is considered complex due to the number of charges and victims involved. It was previously declared as such by Senior Deputy District Attorney Patrick Green. However, Schofield’s lawyer, Kristen Winemiller, filed a motion to remove Judge Ravassipour from overseeing proceedings, stating simply that her client did not believe she could receive a fair and impartial trial.
Judge Ravassipour signed the order to recuse herself on July 25. As the presiding judge, she had approved other motions in the case, such as allowing Winemiller and Schofield to meet with lawyers out of the county as they prepare Schofield’s defense. Schofield has been released on $4 million bail but must wear a GPS monitor.
The decision to disqualify Judge Ravassipour will delay the case as a new judge gets acquainted with the extensive details of alleged crimes involving multiple victims. However, Winemiller asserted the motion was made in good faith and not intended to prolong the process.
As the case against Schofield continues moving forward under a new judge, all further court documents and hearings will need to be rescheduled, extending the time to a resolution. In the meantime, families of the deceased victims will have to wait longer for justice.
Source: NewsWatch 12
