Rusty Hardin, defense attorney for Adrian Peterson in his child abuse case, speaks to reporters in Conroe on Wednesday after a court denied a prosecution motion to remove a Montgomery County judge from the case for alleged bias against the district attorney’s office. Mihir Zaveri | Houston Chronicle
(center) Minnesota Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson speaks with the media before departing from the Montgomery County courthouse in Conroe, TX Tuesday November 4, 2014. Peterson avoided jail time in a plea agreement reached with prosecutors to resolve a child abuse case involving Peterson's 4-year-old son. Billy Smith II/Billy Smith II | Houston Chronicle
Attorney Rusty Hardin speaks on behalf of his client (right) Minnesota Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson before departing from the Montgomery County courthouse in Conroe, TX Tuesday November 4, 2014. Peterson avoided jail time in a plea agreement reached with prosecutors to resolve his child abuse charge. Peterson's plea to the Class A misdemeanor comes with two years of deferred adjudication. Peterson also received a $4,000 fine and 80 hours of required community service.
/ Billy Smith II/Billy Smith II | Houston Chronicle
Minnesota Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson signs an autograph for a man dressed as a wild cat with a sign supporting Peterson at the Montgomery County courthouse in Conroe, TX Tuesday November 4, 2014. Peterson avoided jail time in a plea agreement reached with prosecutors to resolve his child abuse charge. Peterson's plea to the Class A misdemeanor comes with two years of deferred adjudication. Peterson also received a $4,000 fine and 80 hours of required community service.
/ Billy Smith II/Billy Smith II | Houston Chronicle
Minnesota Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson signs an autograph for a man dressed as a wild cat with a sign supporting Peterson at the Montgomery County courthouse in Conroe, TX Tuesday November 4, 2014. Peterson avoided jail time in a plea agreement reached with prosecutors to resolve his child abuse charge. Peterson's plea to the Class A misdemeanor comes with two years of deferred adjudication. Peterson also received a $4,000 fine and 80 hours of required community service.
/ Billy Smith II/Billy Smith II | Houston Chronicle
Minnesota Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson speaks to the media after accepting a plea deal at the Montgomery County courthouse in Conroe, TX Tuesday November 4, 2014. Peterson avoided jail time in a plea agreement reached with prosecutors to resolve his child abuse charge. Peterson's plea to the Class A misdemeanor comes with two years of deferred adjudication. Peterson also received a $4,000 fine and 80 hours of required community service.
/ Billy Smith II/Billy Smith II , Houston Chronicle
Minnesota Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson speaks to the media after accepting a plea deal at the Montgomery County courthouse in Conroe, TX Tuesday November 4, 2014. Peterson avoided jail time in a plea agreement reached with prosecutors to resolve his child abuse charge. Peterson's plea to the Class A misdemeanor comes with two years of deferred adjudication. Peterson also received a $4,000 fine and 80 hours of required community service.
/ Billy Smith II/Chronicle
(right) Minnesota Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson and his wife Ashley Brown depart from the Montgomery County courthouse in Conroe, TX Tuesday November 4, 2014. Peterson avoided jail time in a plea agreement reached with prosecutors to resolve his child abuse charge. Peterson's plea to the Class A misdemeanor comes with two years of deferred adjudication. Peterson also received a $4,000 fine and 80 hours of required community service.
/ Billy Smith II/Billy Smith II | Houston Chronicle
(l-r) Minnesota Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson and his wife Ashley Brown enter the Montgomery County courthouse in Conroe, TX Tuesday November 4, 2014. Peterson avoided jail time in a plea agreement reached with prosecutors to resolve his child abuse charge. Peterson's plea to the Class A misdemeanor comes with two years of deferred adjudication. Peterson also received a $4,000 fine and 80 hours of required community service.
/ Billy Smith II/Billy Smith II | Houston Chronicle
NFL running back Adrian Peterson and wife Ashley Brown sit in a Montgomery County court on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014. Peterson had been charged with reckless or negligent injury to a child for his disciplining of his 4-year-old son with a belt and a switch made from a tapered tree branch at Peterson's home in The Woodlands in May. CBS Dallas
NFL running back Adrian Peterson appears in a Montgomery County court on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014. Peterson had been charged with reckless or negligent injury to a child for his disciplining of his 4-year-old son with a belt and a switch made from a tapered tree branch at Peterson's home in The Woodlands in May. CBS Dallas
NFL running back Adrian Peterson appears in a Montgomery County court on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014. Peterson had been charged with reckless or negligent injury to a child for his disciplining of his 4-year-old son with a belt and a switch made from a tapered tree branch at Peterson's home in The Woodlands in May. CBS Dallas
Ashley Brown, the wife of NFL running back Adrian Peterson, sits with her husband in a Montgomery County court on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014. Peterson had been charged with reckless or negligent injury to a child for his disciplining of his 4-year-old son with a belt and a switch made from a tapered tree branch at Peterson's home in The Woodlands in May. CBS Dallas
NFL running back Adrian Peterson and wife Ashley Brown sit in a Montgomery County court on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014. Peterson had been charged with reckless or negligent injury to a child for his disciplining of his 4-year-old son with a belt and a switch made from a tapered tree branch at Peterson's home in The Woodlands in May. (CBS Dallas) CBS Dallas
Microphones representing members of the local and national media await information from a Nov. 4, 2014 Montgomery County court appearance by NFL running back Adrian Peterson. Billy Smith II | Houston Chronicle
A crowd gathered outside the Montgomery County Courthouse, where NFL running back Adrian Peterson was set to appear, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014. Billy Smith II / Houston Chronicle
A crowd gathered outside the Montgomery County Courthouse, where NFL running back Adrian Peterson was set to appear, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014. Billy Smith II / Houston Chronicle
Houston attorney Rusty Hardin, center, speaks to the media after Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson appeared in court in Conroe, Texas, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2014. Judge Kelly Case tentatively set a Dec. 1 trial date for Peterson on a charge of felony child abuse for using a wooden switch to discipline his 4-year-old son. (AP Photo/Conroe Courier, Jason Fochtman) Jason Fochtman/Associated Press
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson leaves court in Conroe, Texas, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2014 Judge Kelly Case tentatively set a Dec. 1 trial date for Peterson on a charge of felony child abuse for using a wooden switch to discipline his 4-year-old son. (AP Photo/Conroe Courier, Jason Fochtman) Jason Fochtman/Associated Press
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, left, talks with his mother, Bonita Jackson, as he leaves court in Conroe, Texas, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2014 Judge Kelly Case tentatively set a Dec. 1 trial date for Peterson on a charge of felony child abuse for using a wooden switch to discipline his 4-year-old son. (AP Photo/Conroe Courier, Jason Fochtman) Jason Fochtman/Associated Press
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, center, leaves court in Conroe, Texas, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2014. Judge Kelly Case tentatively set a Dec. 1 trial date for Peterson on a charge of felony child abuse for using a wooden switch to discipline his 4-year-old son. (AP Photo/Conroe Courier, Jason Fochtman) Jason Fochtman/Associated Press
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, left, talks with his mother, Bonita Jackson, as he leaves court in Conroe, Texas, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2014 Judge Kelly Case tentatively set a Dec. 1 trial date for Peterson on a charge of felony child abuse for using a wooden switch to discipline his 4-year-old son. (AP Photo/Conroe Courier, Jason Fochtman) Jason Fochtman/Associated Press
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, center, stands with his wife Ashley Brown Peterson, center left, and mother Bonita Jackson, far left, as they listen to Peterson's attorney Rusty Hardin, right, outside the courthouse after making his first court appearance Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2014, in Conroe, Texas. A Texas judge has tentatively set a Dec. 1 trial date for Peterson on a charge of felony child abuse for using a wooden switch to discipline his 4-year-old son. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, Pool) David J. Phillip/Associated Press
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson waits inside a courtroom while making his first court appearance Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2014, in Conroe, Texas. Judge Kelly Case tentatively set a Dec. 1 trial date for Peterson on a charge of felony child abuse for using a wooden switch to discipline his 4-year-old son. Peterson did not enter a plea, though his attorney said he will eventually plead not guilty to the charge that carries a penalty of up to two years in prison. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, Pool) David J. Phillip/Associated Press
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, center, navigates through members of the media with his wife Ashley Brown Peterson, left, after making his first court appearance Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2014, in Conroe, Texas. A Texas judge tentatively set a Dec. 1 trial date for Peterson on a charge of felony child abuse for using a wooden switch to discipline his 4-year-old son. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) David J. Phillip/Associated Press
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, left, listens to attorney Brian Wice, right, while making his first court appearance Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2014, in Conroe, Texas. A judge tentatively set a Dec. 1 trial date for Peterson on a charge of felony child abuse for using a wooden switch to discipline his 4-year-old son. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, Pool) David J. Phillip/Associated Press
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson raises his hand as his name is called while making his first court appearance Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2014, in Conroe, Texas. A judge tentatively set a Dec. 1 trial date for Peterson on a charge of felony child abuse for using a wooden switch to discipline his 4-year-old son. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, Pool) David J. Phillip/Associated Press
Minnesota Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson signs an autograph while departing from the Montgomery County courthouse in Conroe, TX Wednesday October 8, 2014. Adrian Peterson appeared at a hearing on charges he abused his 4-year-old son. Peterson plead not guilty to the charges. Billy Smith II/Chronicle
Minnesota Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson heads in the Montgomery County courthouse in Conroe, TX Wednesday October 8, 2014 to face charges that he abused his 4-year-old son. Peterson will plead not guilty to the charges. Billy Smith II/Chronicle
Minnesota Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson signs an autograph while departing from the Montgomery County courthouse in Conroe, TX Wednesday October 8, 2014. Adrian Peterson appeared at a hearing on charges he abused his 4-year-old son. Peterson plead not guilty to the charges. Billy Smith II/Chronicle
Minnesota Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson heads in the Montgomery County courthouse in Conroe, TX Wednesday October 8, 2014 to face charges that he abused his 4-year-old son. Peterson will plead not guilty to the charges. Billy Smith II/Chronicle
Minnesota Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson heads in the Montgomery County courthouse in Conroe, TX Wednesday October 8, 2014 to face charges that he abused his 4-year-old son. Peterson will plead not guilty to the charges. Billy Smith II/Chronicle
A protestor gathers with the media outside of the Montgomery County Courthouse ahead of Minnesota Vikings player Adrian Peterson's trial on charges of child abuse on Wednesday, Oct. 8. Billy Smith / Houston Chronicle
A protestor stands outside of the Montgomery County Courthouse ahead of Minnesota Vikings player Adrian Peterson's trial on charges of child abuse on Wednesday, Oct. 8. Billy Smith / Houston Chronicle
CONROE, TX - OCTOBER 08: NFL player Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings waits with his wife Ashley Brown during a court appearance at the Lee G. Alworth Building and the Montgomery County 9th District Court on October 8, 2014 in Conroe, Texas. Petersen is facing charges of reckless or negligent injury to a child. Pool/Getty Images
CONROE, TX - OCTOBER 08: Attorneys ask District Judge Kelly W. Case to recuse himself from the bench for the case against NFL player Adrian Petersen of the Minnesota Vikings during a court hearing at the Lee G. Alworth Building and the Montgomery County 9th District Court Petersen on October 8, 2014 in Conroe, Texas. Petersen is facing charges of reckless or negligent injury to a child. Pool/Getty Images
CONROE, TX - OCTOBER 08: Attorneys ask District Judge Kelly W. Case (C) to recuse himself from the bench for the case against NFL player Adrian Petersen of the Minnesota Vikings during a court hearing at the Lee G. Alworth Building and the Montgomery County 9th District Court Petersen on October 8, 2014 in Conroe, Texas. Petersen is facing charges of reckless or negligent injury to a child. Pool/Getty Images
CONROE, TX - OCTOBER 08: NFL player Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings walks with his wife Ashley Brown to a court appearance at the Montgomery County municipal building on October 8, 2014 in Conroe, Texas. Peterson did not enter a plea, and after about an hour in the courtroom the hearing was reset. A tentative trial date was set for Dec. 1. Petersen is facing charges of reckless or negligent injury to a child. Scott Halleran/Getty Images
CONROE, TX - OCTOBER 08: NFL player Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings waits with his wife Ashley Brown after making a court appearance at the Montgomery County municipal building on October 8, 2014 in Conroe, Texas. Peterson did not enter a plea, and after about an hour in the courtroom the hearing was reset. A tentative trial date was set for Dec. 1. Petersen is facing charges of reckless or negligent injury to a child. Scott Halleran/Getty Images
CONROE, TX - OCTOBER 08: NFL player Adrian Peterson (L) of the Minnesota Vikings chats with his attorney Rusty Hardin during a court appearance at the Lee G. Alworth Building and the Montgomery County 9th District Court on October 8, 2014 in Conroe, Texas. Peterson did not enter a plea, and after about an hour in the courtroom the hearing was reset. A tentative trial date was set for Dec. 1. Petersen is facing charges of reckless or negligent injury to a child. Pool/Getty Images
CONROE, TX - OCTOBER 08: NFL player Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings walks with his wife Ashley Brown to a court appearance at the Montgomery County municipal building on October 8, 2014 in Conroe, Texas. Peterson did not enter a plea, and after about an hour in the courtroom the hearing was reset. A tentative trial date was set for Dec. 1. Petersen is facing charges of reckless or negligent injury to a child. Scott Halleran/Getty Images
CONROE, TX - OCTOBER 08: NFL player Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings enters the courtroom with his wife Ashley Brown and his attorney Rusty Hardin (R) at the Lee G. Alworth Building and the Montgomery County 9th District Court on October 8, 2014 in Conroe, Texas. Petersen is facing charges of reckless or negligent injury to a child. Pool/Getty Images
CONROE, TX - OCTOBER 08: NFL player Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings enters the courtroom with his wife Ashley Brown and his attorney Rusty Hardin (R) at the Lee G. Alworth Building and the Montgomery County 9th District Court on October 8, 2014 in Conroe, Texas. Petersen is facing charges of reckless or negligent injury to a child. Pool/Getty Images
Minnesota Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson signs an autograph while departing from the Montgomery County courthouse in Conroe, TX Wednesday October 8, 2014. Adrian Peterson appeared at a hearing on charges he abused his 4-year-old son. Peterson plead not guilty to the charges. Billy Smith II/Chronicle
CONROE, TX - OCTOBER 08: NFL player Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings waits with his wife Ashley Brown during a court appearance at the Lee G. Alworth Building and the Montgomery County 9th District Court on October 8, 2014 in Conroe, Texas. Peterson did not enter a plea, and after about an hour in the courtroom the hearing was reset. A tentative trial date was set for Dec. 1. Petersen is facing charges of reckless or negligent injury to a child. Pool/Getty Images
CONROE, TX - OCTOBER 08: NFL player Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings waits with his wife Ashley Brown after making a court appearance at the Montgomery County municipal building on October 8, 2014 in Conroe, Texas. Peterson did not enter a plea, and after about an hour in the courtroom the hearing was reset. A tentative trial date was set for Dec. 1. Petersen is facing charges of reckless or negligent injury to a child. Scott Halleran/Getty Images
CONROE, TX - OCTOBER 08: NFL player Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings walks to a court appearance at the Montgomery County municipal building on October 8, 2014 in Conroe, Texas. Peterson did not enter a plea, and after about an hour in the courtroom the hearing was reset. A tentative trial date was set for Dec. 1. Petersen is facing charges of reckless or negligent injury to a child. Scott Halleran/Getty Images
CONROE, TX - OCTOBER 08: NFL player Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings waits with his wife Ashley Brown as his attorney Rusty Hardin speaks with the media after making a court appearance at the Lee G. Alworth Building and the Montgomery County 9th District Court on October 8, 2014 in Conroe, Texas. Peterson did not enter a plea, and after about an hour in the courtroom the hearing was reset. A tentative trial date was set for Dec. 1. Petersen is facing charges of reckless or negligent injury to a child. Scott Halleran/Getty Images
CONROE, TX - OCTOBER 08: NFL player Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings chats with his attorney Rusty Hardin (R) during a court appearance at the Lee G. Alworth Building and the Montgomery County 9th District Court on October 8, 2014 in Conroe, Texas. Peterson did not enter a plea, and after about an hour in the courtroom the hearing was reset. A tentative trial date was set for Dec. 1. Petersen is facing charges of reckless or negligent injury to a child. Pool/Getty Images
CONROE, TX - OCTOBER 08: NFL player Adrian Peterson (L) of the Minnesota Vikings chats with his attorney Rusty Hardin during a court appearance at the Lee G. Alworth Building and the Montgomery County 9th District Court on October 8, 2014 in Conroe, Texas. Peterson did not enter a plea, and after about an hour in the courtroom the hearing was reset. A tentative trial date was set for Dec. 1. Petersen is facing charges of reckless or negligent injury to a child. Pool/Getty Images
Minnesota Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson heads in the Montgomery County courthouse in Conroe TX, with family and attorney Rusty Hardin Wednesday October 8, 2014 to face charges that he abused his 4-year-old son. Peterson will plead not guilty to the charges. Billy Smith II/Chronicle
The media begins to set up shop Wednesday outside the courthouse. Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is set to enter a “not guilty” plea at 9 a.m. Wednesday in state District Judge Kelly Case's courtroom in Conroe, his attorney says. He is charged with negligent injury to a child stemming from an incident in which he used a "switch," or thin tree branch, to discipline his 4-year-old son at his home in The Woodlands in May. Billy Smith II / Houston Chronicle
Members of the media gather outside of the Montgomery County Courthouse ahead of Minnesota Vikings player Adrian Peterson's trial on charges of child abuse on Wednesday, Oct. 8. Billy Smith / Houston Chronicle
Members of the media gather outside of the Montgomery County Courthouse ahead of Minnesota Vikings player Adrian Peterson's trial on charges of child abuse on Wednesday, Oct. 8. Billy Smith / Houston Chronicle
This photo provided by the Montgomery County sheriff’s office shows the booking photo of Adrian Peterson. Peterson was indicted in Texas for using a branch to spank one of his sons and the Minnesota Vikings promptly benched him for their game Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014 against the New England Patriots. Peterson turned himself in early Saturday at a jail in Montgomery County, near Houston, where he has a home. He was processed and released. (AP Photo/Montgomery County sheriff’s office) HOPD A judge has denied a motion by prosecutors to remove a Montgomery County judge from the child abuse case of NFL star Adrian Peterson .
Retired Fort Worth Judge Jeff Walker handed down the ruling on Wednesday afternoon, following a hearing on the state's motion to have 9th State District Judge Kelly Case recused from the case for alleged bias against prosecutors.
Peterson's defense attorney, Rusty Hardin , raised multiple objections to prosecutors' efforts to introduce testimony about past actions by Case.
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"Sometimes you can't look at this in a vacuum," First Assistant District Attorney Phil Grant said. "You have to look at a history of the judge's actions."
But Walker sided with Hardin several times, and effectively barred Grant from calling several witnesses ready to testify about what prosecutors described as a feud between the judge and their office.
Hardin argued that prosecutors hadn't been able to meet the high bar for recusal.
"This is nothing more than a motion attempting to reverse the results of an election," Hardin said, referring to Case's election two years ago.
Prosecutors were able to question witnesses about Case's reference earlier this month to attorneys in the Peterson case as "media whores," playing a video of the exchange in court. Grant also questioned Brian Wice , a member of Peterson's legal team, about appearing on a television show with Case during which the second-year judge explained his decision to jail a teacher for not showing up for jury duty.
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Wice denied representing the judge on TV.
Grant said ultimately that the public perception of bias was what mattered.
"Unfortunately this case is incredibly public," Grant said.
In seeking Case's recusal, prosecutors asserted that the judge and Peterson's defense team have a "close relationship."
The ruling clears the way for the rest of Peterson's case, including a motion to re-arrest Peterson because of an alleged admission by the Minnesota Vikings running back that he smoked marijuana while out on bail, to go forward.
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District Attorney Brett Ligon sough Case's recusal after the judge was said to have referred to attorneys in the case as "media whores," the latest in several high-profile clashes between Case and prosecutors. An appeals court has reversed several of Case's decisions.
Hardin filed a motion last week refuting the prosecution's effort to remove Case, arguing that bias can't be based "solely on judicial rulings or remarks."
"The State's motion to recuse is a tale of sound and fury, one that is, by turns, long on vitriol and ad hominem attacks, but tellingly short on legal analysis, and utterly silent on legal authority," Hardin wrote in a response to the prosecution's motion this month.
Peterson did not attend Wednesday's hearing in Conroe.
Peterson is charged with negligent injury to a child stemming from an incident in May in which he used a "switch," or thin tree branch, to discipline his 4-year-old son at his home in The Woodlands. Peterson said in a written statement last month that he did not intend to injure his son and was only disciplining him as he had been punished growing up.
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A spokeswoman for Hardin said the attorney has told Case and prosecutors that Peterson has pleaded not guilty, though he has not entered a formal plea.
If convicted, Peterson faces up to two years in prison and a $10,000 fine. The case has spawned a national debate about corporal punishment and sidelined the NFL's 2012 most valuable player.