Judge disputes misconduct charges, will serve suspension

NEWPORT, Ky. (AP) — A district judge in northern Kentucky has decided not to appeal a suspension from the bench for misconduct.

The Kentucky Enquirer (http://cin.ci/1RQWK2b ) reports that Campbell County District Judge Gregory T. Popovich said he would be off the bench for 15 days, beginning on Wednesday. He has been accused of violating five canons of the state Code of Judicial Conduct.

Popovich disputes the charges, but says he will not appeal to the Kentucky Supreme Court.

The charges against Popovich stemmed from a DUI case in which the judge said it appeared that the assistant prosecutor, Cameron Blau, was helping the defense with its case. The 2014 statements happened when Popovich was in a re-election race with Blau.

Popovich disagrees with the Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission’s findings, and says Blau was being unprofessional.

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Information from: The Kentucky Enquirer, http://www.nky.com

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