On Wednesday, June 4, 2025, 2 News Oklahoma reported that Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler criticized Judge Sharon Holmes for her conduct during a murder trial involving defendant Noe Cruz.
The controversy arose after it was revealed that Judge Holmes held a private meeting with Cruz in her office without the presence of the involved attorneys.
Kunzweiler described the judge’s actions as “simply improper,” emphasizing the unusual nature of a judge engaging in such ex parte communication, particularly with a murder defendant. He stated, “I have never encountered a circumstance in my career in which a judge had a private conversation with a defendant… where the attorneys involved with the case were also not present.” He further noted that a similar situation involving private meetings with victim family members would also be viewed as unacceptable.
As a result of these concerns, Presiding District Court Judge Dawn Moody disqualified Holmes from overseeing the case. Consequently, the non-jury trial for Cruz has been stricken, and further pre-trial proceedings will be managed by a newly assigned judge.
Source: 2 News Oklahoma
