The recently appointed Special Master in the Tanisha Anderson case has asked to be recused from the case.
Retired Judge Thomas Pokorny notified Administrative and Presiding Judge John J. Russo that there was a conflict and asked to be removed from the case.
According to the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, Judge Pokorny recently learned that a member of his family is friends with a person involved in the case.
Judge Russo granted the request and has appointed retired Judge Joseph Gibson as the new Special Master.
Anderson, 37, died on Nov. 12, 2014 after struggling with Cleveland police officers who were trying to get her into a squad car so they could take her for a psychiatric evaluation.
