The Prosecutors Who Just Won Asked Their Own Judge to Step Down, Celeste Rivas Hernandez's Parents File Suit, and No Jury in Largo

Judge London Kite has refused to step aside from Shanna Gardner's murder case after both prosecutors and Kirsten Bridegan — the widow of victim Jared Bridegan — filed motions asking her to disqualify herself. Kite ruled both legally insufficient without addressing the factual allegations. The dispute began when Gardner's defense sought Kirsten Bridegan's cellphone; Kite initially denied the request, then ordered her to surrender it after an ex parte meeting with Gardner's attorneys that neither prosecutors nor Bridegan's lawyers attended. When she refused, Kite initiated indirect criminal contempt proceedings during Mario Fernandez Saldana's trial. The Fifth District Court of Appeal has stayed the order. Prosecutors wrote that Kite's conduct "created the appearance that matters involving Kirsten Bridegan, a material prosecution witness and constitutional crime victim, had been prejudged." Gardner has pleaded not guilty; her trial is set for May 2027. Also: the parents of Celeste Rivas Hernandez have filed a wrongful death suit naming David Anthony Burke, his mother and his managers. And in Largo, Florida, Tomasz Kosowski's capital trial continues with no defense counsel and no jury.Join our new FB groups page here. Take the poll!Join the Daily Crime & Justice community on social media! We're building a passionate group of true crime enthusiasts who love diving deep into the most shocking cases in America.Follow us on Facebook and Instagram by searching "Daily Crime & Justice" on either platform. You'll get exclusive behind-the-scenes content, breaking news updates on cases we're covering, and early alerts when new episodes drop. Our social media is where Garret Fisher's hottest takes live, including reactions that don't make it into the show.But more importantly, it's where YOU come in. Share your theories, debate the verdicts, and connect with fellow listeners who are just as obsessed with justice as you are. Did the jury get it right? What questions do you still have? Your comments and insights often shape future episodes.We cover the trials that matter, but our community makes the conversation unforgettable. Come for Garret's signature cynical commentary, stay for the incredible discussions with thousands of true crime fans who get it.