The NCAA wants Tuscaloosa Circuit Court judge James “Jim” Roberts to recuse himself from Alabama basketball center Charles Bediako’s lawsuit against the organization. Bediako’s lawyers do not oppose it.
But Bediako’s representation was dripping with sarcasm for one of the exhibits that the NCAA relied on in its motion for recusal. The fifth and sixth pages of the document, filed by the organization on Monday, show a discussion about Roberts’ perceived impartiality on Reddit.
“Anybody remember the days when all judges had to be lawyers and were bound by some sort of Conflict of Interest thingy?” one commenter, posting under the name “m5er” wrote.
Another, going by “audirt” claimed that Alabama “has some of the weakest corruption and ethics laws in the country.”
Bediako is suing the NCAA in attempt to regain college eligibility despite leaving the Crimson Tide for the 2023 NBA Draft, signing a two-way NBA contract and playing the past three seasons in the G League. Roberts granted him a temporary restraining order that allows Bediako to play, at least until a hearing on an injunction can be held.
Roberts is listed as a UA donor on the Crimson Tide Foundation’s website, which led to the internet brouhaha over perceived conflicts of interest. The NCAA noted in its filing that “the vast majority of commenters” in the Reddit thread, located on the r/CollegeBasketball forum, were questioning Roberts’ impartiality.
Bediako’s attorneys said in a Tuesday filing that they didn’t think a recital was needed. The plaintiffs were especially disdainful of the NCAA’s Reddit citation.
“The NCAA’s Motion is premised on unflattering commentary from such astute and reasoned observers as Reddit community members ‘m5fer,’ ‘WitOfTheIrish,’ and ‘audirt,’ among others,” Bediako’s response reads. “Surely, the NCAA does not seriously contend that these anonymous Reddit commenters are ‘person[s] of ordinary prudence in the judge’s position knowing all the facts known to the judge.’”
While the Reddit discussion was figured heavily into the NCAA”s argument for recusal, it wasn’t the only thing the organization pointed to. The NCAA cited more traditional media coverage of Roberts’ perceived conflicts of interest, including AL.com’s coverage of the matter.
If Roberts does recuse himself from the case, none of the other Tuscaloosa Circuit Court judges are listed as donors by the Crimson Tide Foundation. However, Roberts is the only one who has not graduated from Alabama, having earned his bachelors from South Florida and law degree from Cumberland School of Law at Samford.
Bediako’s response to the motion for recusal notes the prevalence of judges with Alabama degrees throughout the state.
“It cannot be the case that any lawsuit that tangentially touches upon the University would result in the recusal of every judge who maintains any ties to the University,” the response reads.
Nevertheless, Bediako’s lawyers wrote that they did not oppose Roberts recusing himself from the case. The judge had not yet filed a decision on the matter, as of Tuesday afternoon.
