NCAA Asks Alabama Judge to Recuse from Bediako Case

On Monday, Tuscaloosa Circuit Court judge James Roberts granted an extension to Alabama basketball's Charles Bediako's temporary restraining order, allowing Bediako to continue to play for the Crimson Tide men's basketball team. That wasn't the only filing that happened on Monday for Bediako's lawsuit, as Matt Stahl of AL.com reports that the NCAA has now filed a motion asking Tuscaloosa Circuit Court Judge James Roberts to recuse himself from Charles Bediako's eligibility lawsuit. Last week, it was revealed that Judge Roberts is a six-figure donor to the University of Alabama.

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The NCAA said in its filing:

“The NCAA has faith in the judicial process and does not currently contend the Court has an actual bias, partiality, or prejudice,” the motion reads. “the Similarly, the NCAA does not allege that any actual bias motivated the Court’s granting of a temporary restraining order. Instead, the NCAA contends that proceeding in this Court has created an impermissible appearance of impropriety because of the intense media scrutiny and public speculation surrounding the Court’s relationship with the University of Alabama and its athletics programs and student-athletes.”

Bediako sued the NCAA last week, seeking temporary and permanent injunctions that would allow him to play for Alabama. Bediako spent the last three years in the NBA's G-League, but did not appear in an NBA game. Bediako did, however, sign a two-way contract, which has been the argument of the NCAA as to why Bediako should be ineligible to return to college.

Last Wednesday, Judge Roberts granted Bediako a temporary restraining order, allowing him to play immediately for Alabama. Earlier on Monday, Judge Roberts granted Bediako an extension on the temporary restraining order, due to an NCAA attorney in Tennessee not being able to get to Tuscaloosa after severe weather over the weekend in the southeast. Bediako's injunction hearing was postponed indefinitely, while the restraining order was extended for another 10 days.

"Courts in Alabama and beyond have widely recognized that a mere appearance of partiality is sufficient to require the recusal of a trial judge,” the NCAA wrote. “This appearance can be compounded by widespread media and public scrutiny questioning the trial court’s impartiality. Despite the NCAA’s confidence that the Court can disregard his connections to the University of Alabama and its athletics programs, recusal is still necessary to protect these proceedings from an appearance of impropriety.”

Judge Roberts' extension on the restraining order means Bediako will now be eligible for Alabama for the Crimson Tide's next three games:

Vs. Missouri (Jan. 27)
At Florida (Feb. 1)
Vs. Texas A&M (Feb. 4)

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.