California judge to hear Ariz. mass shooting case

PHOENIX – A federal judge from southern California has been appointed to the case against the man accused of shooting Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, a federal judge and other federal employees.

The appointment of Judge Larry A. Burns came Wednesday after all federal judges in Arizona recused themselves.

The recusal order says the Arizona judges' impartiality could be questioned because U.S. District Judge John Roll was killed during the rampage. Roll was the chief federal judge for Arizona.

The appointment was made by Alex Kozinski, chief judge for the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Jared Loughner has been charged with trying to assassinate the congresswoman and killing Roll, as well as fatally shooting a Giffords staffer and wounding two others.