Kentucky judge’s case referred to disciplinary commission

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) – Kentucky’s chief justice has denied a motion to remove a judge from all criminal cases but referred the case to a state disciplinary commission.

The Courier-Journal (http://cjky.it/1QRGvEo ) reports that Chief Justice John D. Minton Jr. unleashed pointed criticism of Jefferson Circuit Judge Olu Stevens in his ruling Friday.

Minton wrote that Stevens “appears to flout the directives of the Code of Judicial Conduct” by creating a “social-media firestorm.” In his ruling, Minton said that Stevens did not “comply with the letter or spirit” of a recent mediation agreement with Jefferson Commonwealth’s Attorney Tom Wine.

The controversy stems from a November 2014 ruling in which Stevens dismissed a panel of 41 prospective jurors when the lone black person was struck at random, leaving an all-white jury. Stevens denounced Wine on Facebook.

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Information from: The Courier-Journal, http://www.courier-journal.com

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press.