Judge who never golfs set for tissue trial

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- A judge has been assigned to a Philadelphia trial involving the alleged sale of body parts, after a search for a judge who hasn't golfed with the defendants.

Louis Garzone and his brother, Gerald Garzone, along with James McCafferty Jr., worked in the funeral industry. The charges against them stemmed from an alleged scheme to sell body parts, the Philadelphia Daily News reported.

Former Biomedical Tissue Services head Michael Mastromarino is alleged to be the leader of the operation.

Common Pleas Judge Glenn B. Bronson reportedly said he has never played a game of golf and has no personal connections to the four accused men, unlike a number of other judges who previously withdrew from the case.

Bronson, who is said to have a hard-boiled approach in court, has set the 2-month trial to begin Sept. 2, the newspaper said.