HOUGHTON — A new judge will be presiding over a Houghton County murder case.

Marquette County Circuit Court Judge Matthew Wiese will take over as judge in the case of Evan Dixon. He replaces Houghton County Circuit Court Judge Brittany Bulleit, who recused herself from the case.

Bulleit had previously served as county prosecutor and assistant prosecutor before becoming judge last year.

On the form requesting the change, Bulleit marked “I believe, based on objective and reasonable perceptions, my continued assignment will create an appearance of impropriety.”

Dixon, 60, was bound over from 97th District Court in August. He was arrested Nov. 17 in connection with the fatal shooting of Theron Duncan, 53, of Houghton at the Douglass House Saloon. He has been in jail since.

Dixon is charged with first-degree murder-premeditated, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, and felony firearms, punishable by up to two years in prison.

Bulleit’s recusal follows others in the case of Dixon, a longtime local lawyer. 97th District Court Judge Nicholas Daavettila and Dixon’s original attorney, David Gemignani, removed themselves because of longstanding personal or professional ties. They were replaced respectively by Gogebic County District Court Judge Anna Talaska and Marquette attorney Karl Numinen.