A federal judge in Tennessee ordered new trials for three former Memphis police officers convicted in the 2023 beating death of Tyre Nichols.

The officers — Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith — were found guilty last year on federal charges but acquitted on related state charges.

U.S. Chief District Judge Sheryl Lipman ruled new trials were warranted after concerns arose over comments allegedly made by U.S. District Judge Mark Norris, who was set to sentence them, suggesting the Memphis Police Department was “infiltrated to the top with gang members.”

Lipman said the appearance of judicial bias made retrials necessary.

Nichols, 29, died three days after being brutally beaten following a traffic stop, an incident captured on video, NBC News has reported.

Two other former officers, Emmitt Martin and Desmond Mills, pleaded guilty in the federal case and await sentencing.