On Tuesday, April 22, 2025, Fox 4 News reported that a judge has denied the request to remove the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office from the retrial of Randy Halprin, a member of the notorious “Texas 7” group. This decision comes after an appeals court granted Halprin a new trial regarding the 2000 murder of Irving police officer Aubrey Hawkins, citing significant bias from the original trial judge.
Judge Lela Mays ruled against the motion for recusal filed by District Attorney John Creuzot. The DA’s office had expressed concerns about a potential conflict of interest, particularly involving prosecutor Gynthia Garza, who was part of Halprin’s defense team in 2005. Garza had visited Halprin in prison and participated in appeals on his behalf, prompting the DA’s office to seek her removal from the case to ensure impartiality.
In her ruling, Judge Mays instructed that Garza be ethically screened and isolated from any involvement in the prosecution of Halprin, aiming to prevent any conflicts from arising during the trial process. This decision allows the retrial to proceed as scheduled, unless the DA’s office chooses to appeal the ruling.
Halprin, now 47, was one of seven inmates who escaped from a South Texas prison in December 2000. Their subsequent crime spree included the robbery that led to Officer Hawkins’ death. Of the original group, Halprin is one of only two surviving members; the others have been executed or died by suicide.
Following the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals’ intervention in 2019, which halted Halprin’s execution, the court found that his original trial was tainted by the antisemitic bias of Judge Vickers Cunningham. The court’s November ruling called for a new trial based on this bias. Cunningham, who is now retired, has not publicly commented on the case.
Source: Fox 4 News
