Supreme Court of Minnesota January 25, 2001, C1-00-61 (State v. Azure)

OPINION

BLATZ, Chief Justice.

Appellant Joseph Allen Azure brings a direct appeal from his September 21, 1999 conviction for first-degree murder. The only issue on appeal is whether the judge who presided over appellant’s trial should have removed himself pursuant to appellant’s oral pretrial request. Appellant argues that Minn.Stat. § 542.16 (1998), not Minn. R.Crim. P. 26.03, subd.