Another sister, Karen Soldo, appealed to Judge Hoffman to issue a sentence of 120 years without parole.

At that, Judge Hoffman stood and said, "Everybody, just stop where you are right now."

"I'm sure counsel can find a way to take care of this matter without further troubling this court," Judge Hoffman said.

"I have publicly acknowledged the hypocrisy of my conduct, and I must bear the shame of that," he told Judge Hoffman today.

- to Judge Hoffman.

Later, those convictions were overturned by an appeals court, which cited, among other reasons, what it called Judge Hoffman's "antagonistic" courtroom demeanor.

Upon his appointment to the bench, Judge Hoffman was faced with defiance of court-ordered school integration.

If Judge Hoffman's decision is upheld by higher courts, experts say it could have a far-reaching effect on evidence introduced in criminal cases around the nation.

The jury, Judge Hoffman wrote, "should hear directly from the person who performed the autopsy when the results are such a significant issue in the case."

Convicted in Judge Hoffman's court, they were freed on appeal.