Popular crime novel writer Elmore Leonard and his wife are undergoing a divorce after 18 years of marriage. New Jersey fans of the author know him for his western novel "3:10 to Yuma," which has been made into films twice, as well as for the humorous "Get Shorty," also a movie starring John Travolta.
His wife, Christine Leonard, filed the divorce papers in May, saying that the couple had ceased living together as husband and wife. The couple has no children. The judge to whom the case was initially assigned recused himself, stating that he did not feel the role was appropriate for him, since he had presided over the couple's wedding years ago. A new judge was assigned, and the court appointed a mediator to help resolve outstanding issues.
