The NCAA is pushing for Tuscaloosa Circuit Court Judge James “Jim” Roberts to step aside from a high-profile eligibility case involving former Alabama basketball center Charles Bediako - and while Bediako’s legal team isn’t fighting the idea, they’re making it clear they’re not exactly impressed with the NCAA’s reasoning.
At the heart of the NCAA’s motion for recusal? A Reddit thread. Yes, really.
In a legal filing submitted Monday, the NCAA included screenshots from a Reddit discussion questioning Judge Roberts’ impartiality. One user sarcastically asked, “Anybody remember the days when all judges had to be lawyers and were bound by some sort of Conflict of Interest thingy?”
Another chimed in with a jab at Alabama’s ethics laws. The NCAA pointed to the thread - specifically, the fact that “the vast majority of commenters” on the r/CollegeBasketball forum expressed concerns about Roberts’ potential bias - as part of its case to remove him from the proceedings.
Bediako’s lawyers didn’t hold back in their response. While they ultimately stated they wouldn’t oppose Roberts stepping aside, they took a sharp swipe at the NCAA’s reliance on anonymous internet users to build a legal argument.
“The NCAA’s Motion is premised on unflattering commentary from such astute and reasoned observers as Reddit community members ‘m5fer,’ ‘WitOfTheIrish,’ and ‘audirt,’ among others,” the filing reads, clearly dripping with sarcasm. “Surely, the NCAA does not seriously contend that these anonymous Reddit commenters are ‘person[s] of ordinary prudence in the judge’s position knowing all the facts known to the judge.’”
But Reddit wasn’t the NCAA’s only source of concern. The organization also cited traditional media coverage, including reporting that highlighted Roberts’ listing as a donor to the University of Alabama on the Crimson Tide Foundation’s website. That connection, the NCAA argues, raises questions about his ability to remain impartial in a case involving a former Alabama athlete.
And that’s where things get even more layered. Bediako, who left Alabama for the 2023 NBA Draft and signed a two-way contract, has spent the past three seasons in the G League.
He’s now suing the NCAA in an effort to regain his college eligibility. Judge Roberts granted him a temporary restraining order, which allows him to play - at least until a hearing on a more permanent injunction can be held.
The NCAA’s argument is that Roberts’ ties to the university - especially financial ones - could present a conflict of interest. But Bediako’s legal team pushed back on the broader implications of that logic.
“It cannot be the case that any lawsuit that tangentially touches upon the University would result in the recusal of every judge who maintains any ties to the University,” the response reads. And they have a point - in a state like Alabama, where many judges are alumni or supporters of the flagship university, that kind of blanket disqualification would be tough to enforce.
Interestingly, Roberts is the only Tuscaloosa Circuit Court judge who isn’t an Alabama graduate. He earned his undergraduate degree from South Florida and went to law school at Samford’s Cumberland School of Law. So while he may be listed as a donor, he doesn’t share the same alma mater connection that others on the bench do.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Judge Roberts hadn’t made a decision on whether he’ll step aside. For now, Bediako remains eligible to play - but the legal battle over his eligibility, and who gets to preside over it, is still very much in motion.
This case is more than just a legal technicality. It’s a flashpoint in the ongoing tension between athletes seeking more control over their careers and the NCAA’s enforcement of eligibility rules. And now, it’s also a reminder of how even internet chatter can find its way into a courtroom.