New Judge In Harris Trial

A Minnesota man charged in the death of a De Smet teenager was supposed to be in court today for a motions hearing, however that hearing has been put on hold. An affidavit has been filed by James Harris’ lawyer Jeff Burns to request a new judge in the case. Circuit Judge Tim Tucker will be replaced by Judge Jon Erickson of Huron. Kingsbury County States Attorney Gregg Gass says since Erickson is new to the case, the 28-year-old Anoka, Minnesota man will be re-arraigned on the charges of Vehicular Homicide, Felony Hit and Run and Driving Under the Influence on December 9th in De Smet. Harris was scheduled to stand trial on the charges December 8th. Tucker found probable cause to proceed with a trial against Harris at an October 7th preliminary hearing. That preliminary hearing came after a Kingsbury County Grand Jury failed to indict Harris, leading Gass to re-file the charges. Burns says he can’t comment on why the change was requested. Harris is accused of striking and killing 16-year-old Zachary Eichstadt of De Smet on September 23rd.  Performance Radio has made a request to allow for expanded electronic media coverage of the case. The request includes video and still photography. Erickson is the first judge in South Dakota to permit video of a trial court proceeding. However for video to be approved in the case, both Gass and Burns will have to approve it’s use