Ex-Scout leader gets new judge in Gwinnett molestation case

By Alexis Stevens

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A Gwinnett County Superior Court judge has ruled that a new judge will preside over the long-delayed trial for a former Scout leader accused of molesting 12 boys.

Judge Melodie Snell Connor has ordered that Judge Karen Beyers be disqualified from the case because of potential bias, according to an order filed Friday. That potential bias was the subject of a hearing held last week for the case of Harry Brett Taylor.

Taylor, 47, remains jailed without bond on on multiple charges of child molestation, sexual battery and sexual exploitation of children. The former Gwinnett library board member was arrested in July 2008.

The issue involves a lawyer who previously worked in the District Attorney's office and now works as an assistant to Beyers, Taylor's attorney, Walt Britt, told Connor last week.

District Attorney Danny Porter told Connor that the attorney in question was never involved with Taylor's case while working in his office.

"While this court finds no actual bias or impropriety, the court does find that all of the surrounding facts and circumstances in their totality could cause the average citizen to reasonably question the impartiality of the judge, thus sufficing for disqualification," Connor wrote in her ruling, obtained by Channel 2 Action News.

A new judge has not yet been appointed to the case.