Reddit’s Role in Charles Bediako’s NCAA Lawsuit on Alabama Basketball
The NCAA has requested that Tuscaloosa Circuit Court Judge James “Jim” Roberts withdraw from the Charles Bediako lawsuit. Bediako’s legal representatives support this request. Their response was particularly sarcastic regarding the NCAA’s reliance on an exhibit from Reddit concerning the judge’s impartiality.
Background on the Lawsuit
Charles Bediako, a center for Alabama basketball, is pursuing legal action against the NCAA. His goal is to regain eligibility after declaring for the 2023 NBA Draft and signing a two-way contract. He has spent the last three seasons playing in the G League. Presently, he has a temporary restraining order that allows him to participate in basketball, pending a hearing regarding a permanent injunction.
Concerns About Judge Roberts
Recently, the NCAA’s filing highlighted discussions from Reddit about Judge Roberts’ impartiality. The comments on the r/CollegeBasketball forum raised doubts about his ability to remain unbiased. One user questioned the integrity of judges and mentioned Alabama’s allegedly weak corruption laws.
- Commenters like “m5er” and “audirt” expressed skepticism regarding Roberts’ impartiality.
- Bediako’s attorneys criticized the NCAA’s citation of these social media comments.
Judicial Connections to the University
Roberts is a known donor to the University of Alabama, sparking further discussion about potential conflicts of interest. Although Roberts is the only circuit judge who did not graduate from Alabama—having earned his degrees from South Florida and Cumberland School of Law—he remains at the center of scrutiny.
Bediako’s legal team emphasized the prevalence of judges with Alabama affiliations in the state. They argued that not every lawsuit involving the university should disqualify judges associated with it.
NCAA’s Legal Strategy
While the NCAA used both Reddit comments and traditional media coverage, such as reports from AL.com, to support its request for recusal, Bediako’s attorneys did not see the need for a recusal recital. They remarked on the NCAA’s reliance on “unflattering commentary” from anonymous Reddit members instead of credible concerns.
Next Steps
As of Tuesday afternoon, Judge Roberts had not made a decision regarding his potential recusal from the case. The outcome remains uncertain as legal discussions continue.
