WHITESBURG, Ky. — A former Letcher County sheriff accused of murder is not giving up on his efforts to have the judge presiding over his case disqualified.
Former Sheriff Shawn Mickey Stines is charged with murder for the Sept. 19, 2024, shooting death of Letcher District Judge Kevin Mullins in the judge’s chambers.
Back in December, a hearing in the case was abruptly canceled after the parties arrived at the courthouse, due to a matter Special Judge Christopher Cohron said needed to be resolved. Days later, the defense filed a motion asking Cohron to recuse himself from the case.
As basis for the recusal, Stines’ attorneys pointed out that Cohron had not disclosed that he and Mullins sat next to each other during a meeting of the Judicial Commission on Mental Health just seven days before Mullins was killed.
But Cohron denied the motion March 6, saying his relationship with Mullins was professional and would not affect his judgment in the case.
But on Tuesday, Stines filed an affidavit further questioning Cohron’s impartiality.
The affidavit notes the video shows Mullins discussing his work on a “Women with Dignity” bill, highlighting recovery events and expungement efforts in Letcher County, and discussing his professional plans at a District Judge’s College the following week. Stines says the video shows Cohron appearing to nod in approval at Mullins’ statements.
“It is my belief that the trial of this matter will necessarily include evidence regard the week’s events Mullins discussed in the video,” Stines’ affidavit reads. “As such, it is difficult to believe that Judge Cohron’s proximity with Mullins such a short time before the events at issue will not affect his judgment in my case. It is also my believe that evidence presented at trial regarding Mullins will conflict with the judge’s professional knowledge of Mullins and that the presiding judge will not be impartial as a result. The relationship between the presiding judge and the alleged victim, including their service together on the smae committee and the proximity to the events at issue in this case, creates circumstances under which a reasonable person could question the presiding judge’s impartiality.”
By filing the affidavit, the question over whether Cohron continues to preside over the case now goes to Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice Debra Lambert. She will now review the case and determine whether or not to disqualify Cohron from the case.
A copy of the Stines’ affidavit follows:
