Ky. Judge Should Be Removed, Panel Says; He Vows to 'Fight It to the Bitter End'
A former chief judge of Harlan County, Ky., should be removed from office, a disciplinary panel ruled today, because of conflicts of interest and his use of his office to forward personal interests. It is only the fourth time a Kentucky judge has been ordered off the bench since 1984.
But Harlan County Circuit Judge Russell Alred says political opponents are using the Judicial Conduct Commission to further their own ends. He has already filed a notice of appeal with the Kentucky Supreme Court, and vows “to fight it to the bitter end,” in federal court, if necessary, to retain his seat on the bench, reports the Lexington Herald Leader.
Among the examples cited by the JCC in its opinion were Alred’s appointment last year of a special grand jury to investigate the county judge-executive. At the time, a cousin of Alred was running against the judge-executive for election to his job.
WYMT also has a story.
Earlier articles by the Herald Leader and WYMT as the ethics trial against Alred was progressing provide additional details.
