A federal judge in San Diego was chosen to preside over the case against the alleged gunman in a mass shooting in Tucson that critically wounded Democratic Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.
The designation of U.S. District Judge Larry Alan Burns to hear the case of Jared Lee Loughner was made by Chief Judge Alex Kozinski of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
The chief judge acted after judges of the Arizona district court recused themselves from hearing the case. U.S. District Judge John Roll, the presiding federal judge in Arizona, was among those killed in the shooting.
Loughner allegedly opened fire last weekend outside a supermarket, killing six, wounding Giffords and injuring 13 others. Longtime San Diegan Judy Clarke was appointed to represent the defendant.
Burns has served as a federal judge in San Diego since 2003.
It is not yet known if Loughner's case will be moved to San Diego or if Burns will travel to Arizona to hear the case.
