The complainant is notified of what action is taken unless the disposition is a private admonishment or private reprimand. "Unfortunately for Judge Jameson, altruistic intentions do not overcome or eliminatehis serious violations of the Canons of Judicial Conduct," the order continues. The mission of the Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission is to encourage judges, commissioners and candidates for judicial office to maintain high standards of conduct and promote public confidence in the integrity, independence, competence, and impartiality of Kentuckys judiciary. degree, May 2020, from Duke University School of Law and, in July 2020, was elected to The American Law Institute. Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Circuit Judge Atkins Reprimanded By State Judicial Conduct Commission March 2, 2023 News Edge Newsroom News Edge Christian County Chief Circuit Judge John Atkins has received a public reprimand from the Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission regarding his conduct in a pair of criminal cases he oversaw. While the majority of Kentucky's circuit court clerks are committed to maintaining the high standards expected of the office, an effective method of imposing sanctions on circuit court clerks who engage in misconduct or wrongdoing is essential to the efficient operation of the judicial system. She has since filed an appeal. In addition, Justice VanMeter has served on the Probate and Trust Legislative Committee of the Kentucky Bar Association, the Family Court Rules and the Civil Rules Committees of the Kentucky Supreme Court, the Chief Justices Fayette County Family Court Task Force, and is a frequent speaker for continuing legal education. The JCC does not have the authority to review a case for judicial error or to direct a different result in a case. Judicial Conduct Commission Brought to you by Free Law Project, a non-profit dedicated to creating high quality open legal information. Christian Circuit Judge John Atkins was disciplined Thursday with a public reprimand from the Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission. On Tuesday, the first day of the 2023 . 1. You can fill out our complaint form online, print the form and mail it, or send us a letter describing the alleged misconduct. 413 0 obj <> endobj Judicial Conduct Commission; Circuit Court Clerk Conduct Commission; Resources for New Judges; Court Personnel Directory; Report Fraud, Waste & Abuse; Request Court Records; COVID-19; Court ADA; Site Map; Policies; Security; Disclaimer; Accessibility; Administrative Office of the Courts. Kenton County District Court Judge Ann Ruttle will be suspended for two weeks without pay in May after the Judicial Conduct Commission found she denied appointment of council to a defendant in 2021 who couldn't afford one in a criminal case, according to court records. Formal proceedings and charges against 42nd Judicial Circuit Court Judge James T. Jamie Jameson who presides over Calloway and Marshall counties were detailed in a 254-page document released by the Judicial Conduct Commission of Kentucky Thursday. The commission is the sole state entity authorized by the state constitution to take disciplinary action . Judicial Conduct Commission hearing in Hopkinsville. The commission will take into consideration the vision, values, and goals of a multiyear assessment to enhance the practice, quality, and timeliness of the judicial response to cases involving these needs., The commission membership is composed of representatives from the judicial and legal communities; the juvenile, criminal and child protection systems; the legislature; the business community; organizations with a substantial interest in mental health matters; and other state and local leaders who have demonstrated a commitment to mental health issues affecting Kentuckians.. Mismanaging his courtroom and engaging in acts of retaliation and deviating from acceptable standards of judicial conduct. Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE). 03/3 . 426 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<9E4A0BA5A930054F8A0C782B6CA91317>]/Index[413 29]/Info 412 0 R/Length 78/Prev 352845/Root 414 0 R/Size 442/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream Judicial Conduct Commission; Circuit Court Clerk Conduct Commission; Resources for New Judges; Court Personnel Directory; Report Fraud, Waste & Abuse; Request Court Records; COVID-19; Court ADA; Site Map; Policies; Security; Disclaimer; Accessibility; Administrative Office of the Courts. Count I: That Jameson acted as the alter ego of the 42nd Judicial Circuit Community Corrections Board in the creation and development of an ankle monitoring program and failed to separate himself as judge from his duties at the CCP, creating the appearance of impropriety to the public. The order the commission issued Friday found Jameson guilty of all counts. Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE), Supreme Court Order Appointing Members to KJCMH, Kentucky Judicial Commission on Mental Health. Governor Andy Beshear appointed Karem to the Commission on May 27, 2020 to a four-year term, which expires May 27, 2024. You have permission to edit this article. 5Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Final Order, Aug. 31, 2020Proceedings - Nov. 18, 2019-Aug. 12, 2020, District Judge Robert F. Wright, 35th Judicial District, Div. Affirming the decision of the Judicial Conduct Commission, the Kentucky Supreme Court upheld the removal of a judge for (1) coercing members of her guardian ad litem panel to donate the maximum amount to her campaign and to use personal time to campaign on her behalf; using court staff to work on her campaign during work hours; and taking steps NYS Commission on Judicial Conduct File a Complaint All complaints must be signed and in writing. The charges included . hb```f``a`a`ad@ A+s40311P=J8 $XDXX22C'1Z02J0\`AA&TFE Kentucky Rules of the Supreme Court (SCR) 4.300. The complaint said Atkins consulted with the police officer who was the victim outside the court proceedings and then used the content of the conversation during the sentencing hearing although the officer did not testify. His late wife, Lucy Bryans VanMeter, and he are the parents of four children. Even without the complaintsinvolving the community corrections board, its operation and administration, and theassociated rigging of the bid process, the other conduct of Judge Jameson established by theclear and convincing evidence presented at the Temporary Suspension Hearing and FinalHearing is sufficient to justify the Commissions decision herein, and the discipline imposedof removal from office. If the JCC files formal charges against a judge, the JCC makes public the charges and any response from the judge. Updated July 14, 2021 4:15 PM A former Bullitt County master commissioner was publicly reprimanded Tuesday by the Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission over an accusation that he. The JEC does not respond to any judge or judicial candidate about the ethical behavior of anyone other than him/herself. [1] The list of opinions and the opinions themselves contain the pertinent information so that users can take notice of their status and proceed accordingly. Unless a resolution is reached between the Judicial and Jameson in the next 15 days, there will be a public hearing, the circuit court judge told WKMS late Thursday. Mar 2, 2023 Updated 4 min ago FRANKFORT, Ky. (KT) - The Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission on Thursday released its reports in cases involving disciplinary action against two sitting judges, a circuit judge in western Kentucky and a district judge in northern Kentucky. U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell on Monday denied Fischer's request that she block the state Judicial Conduct Commission from further action against his campaign over complaints it had. Ht0D4p40,:XP@I`HLI P. "The Judicial Conduct Commission (JCC) is the only entity authorized under the Kentucky Constitution to take disciplinary action against a sitting Kentucky judge. JCC proceedings provide a fair and objective means to preserve the integrity of the judicial process. As a result, Count VI is now not considered by or factored into the discipline imposed by the Commission herein. Kentucky Code of Judicial Conduct forms the basis of JEC opinions. Emailassign@whas11.com, visit ourFacebook pageorTwitter feed. (2) . Judge Gordon Upon taking office on January 2, 2017, he became just the third Justice to have served at all four levels of Kentucky unified court system. An Owensboro, Ky., judge accused of misusing her position to influence criminal cases that involved her adult son has been ordered removed from the bench. Jameson was placed under a temporary, paid suspension by the JCC back in August pending the results of the proceedings. Other opinions that are currently valid should be followed with caution in light of recent federal court rulings that are on appeal. The JCC also has authority over trial commissioners, domestic relations commissioners, master commissioners and attorneys who are candidates for judicial office. %%EOF MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WV News) Monongalia County Magistrate Phillip Todd Gaujot resigned on Monday following an investigation by the Judicial Investigation Commission, which officially admonished him for the second time on Tuesday. The Circuit Court Clerk Conduct Commission investigates and reviews complaints against circuit court clerks. 1Agreed Order of Public Reprimand, July 7, 2016 Proceedings - April 1-July 5, 2016, District Court Judge Sheila A. Collins, 30th Judicial District, Div. P')WrDVHRgY "jFFXdGKwNXRQ&3MZ"oJ38:3::"94 The Writ vacated and set aside the Commissions Order of Temporary Suspension and declared it void ab initio. Acting as an alter ego for the 42nd Judicial Circuit Community Corrections Board in the implementation and operation of its ankle monitoring program. All subsequent pleadings are also made public and any hearing related to the charges is public. It went on to say that security cameras should be required in daycare centers. Jamesons legal representation argues the facts and opinions that led the commission to make these charges were submitted by individuals who seek to provide political benefit to Jamesons election opponent, Andrea Moore, in his bid for reelection this fall. Justice VanMeter was appointed and then elected to the Fayette Circuit Court bench in 1999 on which he served until his election to the Court of Appeals. endstream endobj 414 0 obj <> endobj 415 0 obj <> endobj 416 0 obj <>stream 2022 Kentucky Court of Justice. Judicial Conduct Commission Kentucky Supreme Court Election Opponent General Election Lawsuit Statement Accusations Andrea Moore Primary Election Bid Circuit Court Judge 42nd District Void. The commission assists the chief justice of Kentucky and the Supreme Court of Kentucky by receiving and investigating these complaints and making recommendations to the chief justice for action. Long before receiving all of the claims and factual information submitted against him from the Commission, Judge Jameson was informed by persons involved in the local justice system in Marshall County that a group of six or fewer attorneys and at least one member of court personnel were working to submit a diatribe of tainted factual information to the Commission in an attempt to damage Judge Jamesons reputation during an election year to the benefit of his opponent, the response said. specialist judicial experience of at least five years in the civil/commercial division of a superior court of record is highly desirable; and experience of the trial of criminal and complex financial cases will be an asset. 1Agreed Order of Suspension, Sept. 1, 2015, District Court Judge Cathy E. Prewitt, 34th Judicial Circuit, Div. That suspension was vacated by the Kentucky Supreme Court on Monday, because the JCC voted to suspend Jameson on a 3-2 vote, when the law requires at least four votes to suspend a judge. ", In its findings of fact, the JCC says the allegations it was presented with in initial complaints and in formal hearings "include serious claims of lack of judicial temperament, abuse of contempt power, due process violations, abuse of judicial office/power, improper implementation, use and administration of ankle monitors and processes, fundraising matters, 'bid rigging,' incidents taking place in the Marshall County courthouse investigated by the Marshall County Sheriffs office, obstruction of justice, misuse and abuse of power, various improprieties as a judicial officer, the appearance of impropriety, improper exercise of influence, misusing and abusing the prestige and power of his judicial office, retaliation, and a lack of candor to the relevant tribunals. Justice for All planning grant from the National Center for State Courts. Box 4266Frankfort, KY 40604-4266. PoorBest. Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the statewide justice systems and services and periodically report the findings to interested parties in Kentucky. The complaint form is provided in a fillable PDF format for users to type their information into the form. The state Judicial Conduct Commission issued the public reprimand against. FOOTNOTES. As part of its strategic plan, the KAJC is currently working to: Capitol Building700 Capital Avenue,Suite 225Frankfort, KY 40601502-564-5493. Example video title will go here for this video, Serial killer documentary | Meet the Casanova Killer called 'more brutal than Bundy'. For, Updates | Crews continue to restore power as thousands remain in the dark after wind storm; the latest numbers, Group demands accountability following release of body cam footage in 'unintentional' shooting of teens, 'We can handle it': Fans brave the weather for Big Nita's Cheesecake, J&J to end sales of baby powder with talc worldwide next year, One person killed in fatal collision on Rose Island Road, Here's what Louisville Police now know about the suspicious device found downtown. The complaint said Atkins took the position that as the ultimate fact finder, he had the prerogative to talk to who he wanted and investigate matters independently. The commission reviews complaints against judges, conducts hearings when warranted and imposes sanctions on judges found to have behaved improperly. HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. A Kentucky judge was suspended with pay on Friday following testimony that he pressured a lawyer practicing in his court to support his reelection campaign. 1Agreed Order of Public Reprimand, Jan. 6, 2017, District Court Judge Shan F. Embry, 46th Judicial District, Div. If a complaint is not within the JCCs jurisdiction, it will be dismissed without further action. The mission of the Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission is to encourage judges, commissioners and candidates for judicial office to maintain high standards of conduct and promote public. The code is intended to provide guidance and assist judges in maintaining the highest standards of judicial and personal conduct, and to provide a basis for regulating their conduct through disciplinary agencies. Linda AveryCalloway County Circuit Court Clerk, Loretta CradyHardin County Circuit Court Clerk, Stephanie King-LogsdonMcLean County Circuit Court Clerk, Mike ReddenPendleton County Circuit Court Clerk, Vincent RiggsFayette County Circuit Court Clerk, Tommy GarrettMetcalfe County Circuit Court Clerk, Craig OverstreetCasey County Circuit Court Clerk, Tyler PhillipsLee County Circuit Court Clerk. The members include one member and one alternate from District Court, Circuit Court and the Kentucky Court of Appeals, each chosen by a majority vote of their respective courts; one member and one alternate appointed by the governing body of the Kentucky Bar Association; and two citizen members (neither judges nor attorneys) appointed by the governor. However, if the question is ever before the Supreme Court, the JEC and the Supreme Court shall take into consideration the judge or judicial candidates reliance upon the JEC opinion. He was elected to the court in 2006 and was removed from office in July 2012. He is a member of Christ Church Cathedral. Some opinions that are still valid reference canon numbers from the old 1978 Code of Judicial Conduct and the new canons are noted. Prior to being elected to the Supreme Court, Justice VanMeter served thirteen years as a Judge of the Kentucky Court of Appeals, having been elected in November 2003, and being re-elected unopposed in 2006 and 2014. Propriety and the All rights reserved. READ MORE >> About Us The rules governing the JCC require confidentiality during the investigation process. Circuit court clerks perform duties prescribed by the Kentucky Constitution, statutes, rules and administrative procedures that are integral to Kentucky Court of Justice operations. The Supreme Court affirmed the findings of fact, conclusions of law and final order issuing a public reprimand against Beth Lewis Maze, Judge of the Twenty-First Judicial Circuit, Second Division, holding that the Judicial Conduct Commission appropriately issued a public reprimand. Count VI: That Jameson had a pattern of noncompliance and interference with the JCC's orders. To attempt to change the outcome of your case, please discuss this with an attorney immediately. 5Agreed Order of Disability Retirement, Aug. 23, 2016Order of Temporary Retirement, May 2, 2016, Circuit Court Judge Olu A. Stevens, 30th Judicial Circuit, Div. The Judicial Conduct Commission,. The panel viewed a number of videos showing Jamesons courtroom demeanor and use of his contempt power. Commission proceedings provide a fair and objective means to preserve the integrity of the judicial process. DeRenard felt pressured to donate to his campaign, which she did multiple times, she said. The case this week is being heard by Muhlenberg County Circuit Judge Brian Wiggins. to the Kentucky Bar Association for possible suspension or disbarment from the practice of law. The following types of circuit court clerk misconduct may lead to disciplinary actions. Fischer filed a suit in federal court Tuesday against the Judicial Conduct Commission (JCC), the body responsible for investigating judicial misconduct, for allegedly violating his First. 0 Currentness (1) Commission shall have authority: . Identify and remove barriers impeding access to the courts. Kentucky will play its first game in the tourney at 9 p.m. Friday in the quarterfinals. 13 In Nicholson v. The Judicial Conduct Commission found Shan guilty of engaging in the following misconduct. Communications/Training Coordinator Nan Hanley has more than 20 years of experience with the Kentucky Access to Justice Foundation, a statewide resource center for civil legal aid programs. The JEC is comprised of one judge from the Court of Appeals, Circuit Court and District Court and two members of the Kentucky Bar Association. Partner with other service providers to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the statewide delivery system. If the complaint is not resolved at this stage, the JCC may file formal charges against the judge and hold a fact-finding hearing. If no misconduct is found, the complaint will be dismissed. And in 2019, Kentucky became one of 11 states to receive a Any individual or group with knowledge of possible judicial misconduct or wrongdoing may file a complaint. Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE). All rights reserved. This story has been updated. The rules governing the commission require confidentiality during the investigation process. Jameson has been involved in a lengthy legal battle with the commission after being accused of seven counts of misconduct. 2Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Final Order, Dec. 19, 2017Proceedings Sept. 11-Oct. 30, 2017, District Court Judge Jennifer H. Leibson, 30th Judicial District, Div. priority for the Judicial Branch. Judge James T. Jameson had been in office since 2016, as a judge of the 42 nd Circuit, which includes Marshall and Calloway counties . Final disposition of some complaints takes several months or longer. His violations of the Code of Judicial Conduct were extensive and frequent. 2022 Kentucky Court of Justice. Judge Jamie Jameson took the stand Monday, Oct. 17, 2022, during aJudicial Conduct Commission hearing in Hopkinsville. 2Agreed Order of Permanent Retirement, Dec. 18, 2019, Circuit Judge Beth L. Maze, 21st Judicial Circuit, Div. Jameson called character witnesses on his behalf, including local attorneys and a circuit clerk who praised his behavior as professional and said he treated defendants, attorneys and law enforcement with respect. 2Agreed Order of Suspension, Sept. 4, 2020, Family Court Judge Dawn M. Gentry, 16th Judicial Circuit, Family Div. Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission voted 3-2 to suspend 42nd Judicial Circuit Judge Jamie Jameson following a daylong hearing in which he told commissioners they were being used for. Communications between the requestor and the JEC members are confidential. Count V: That Jameson repeatedly attempted to obstruct justice and impede the JCC's authority to investigate the charges against him. . 1Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Final Order, June 17, 2015Proceedings - Feb. 19-April 28, 2015, District Judge Sandra L. McLaughlin, 30th Judicial District, Div. Jameson was suspended with pay on Friday, Aug. 12, 2022, following testimony that he pressured a lawyer practicing in his court to support his reelection campaign.