The judge assigned to hear the lawsuit between the Attorney General and the Department of Natural Resources has taken himself off the case. Judge Robert Koffman says it would be improper for him to preside over the disagreement about the Union Pacific Railroad bridge at Boonville. DNR wants to let the railroad take down the bridge. The Attorney General says the action is improper and endangers the KATY trail. Koffman says he was Governor Matt Blunt’s first judicial appointment and he does not want any ruling he makes that might favor DNR to look like a favor for the appointment. The State Supreme Court will appoint another judge to hear the case.