Alabama judge recuses himself in Charles Bediako eligibility case

Field Level Media|published: Wed 28th January, 14:17 2026

Jan 24, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama center Charles Bediako (14) warms up before the SEC basketball game against Tennessee at Coleman Coliseum. Bediako was reinstated to play college basketball after winning a legal battle. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News

Judge James H. Roberts Jr. of the Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court recused himself from Charles Bediako's lawsuit against the NCAA surrounding his collegiate eligibility at Alabama on Wednesday.

Roberts and his wife are listed as Alabama athletics boosters with a lifetime contribution of between $100,000 and $249,000 to the Crimson Tide Foundation. Roberts was asked by the NCAA to recuse himself on Monday.

Bediako, 23, played at Alabama from 2021-23, averaging 6.6 points and 5.2 rebounds in 70 games. He went undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft but signed a two-way contract with the San Antonio Spurs. Bediako has never played in an NBA regular-season game but played in the G League as recently as Jan. 17.

He was granted a temporary restraining order by Roberts on Jan. 21 and has appeared in Alabama's last two games against Tennessee and Missouri while awaiting a final resolution on his eligibility. He's averaging 13.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 21.5 minutes per game in his return.

The hearing to rule on Roberts' preliminary injunction was scheduled for Tuesday but had to be delayed due to weather issues preventing the NCAA's legal representation from making it to Tuscaloosa.

That extended the injunction by 10 days but this recusal could now extend it even further as the appointment process for the replacement judge plays out.

--Field Level Media