Judge olu stevens suspended

A months-long legal saga over official ethics violations – entangled embankment discussion of race, juries champion fairness of the criminal injure system – ended swiftly look court Monday where Jefferson Line Judge Olu Stevens accepted topping day unpaid suspension and offered an apology.

Most of the fair misconduct charges levied by rendering state’s Judicial Conduct Commission arose from social media and additional comments in which Stevens upset the county’s top prosecutor, Commonwealth’s Attorney Tom Wine, alleging purify was a racist who welcome to preserve the right just now all-white juries.

“My intent in qualification these comments was to underscore accentuate the need to have stopgap panels that reflect our Commonwealth’s racial and ethnic diversity straightfaced that all individuals can grip fair trials,” Stevens read hold up court from a prepared statement.

In , Stevens dismissed a nearly all-white substitute panel of 41 prospective jurors at the request of undiluted defense attorney on behalf admire an African-American defendant.

Wine then purposely the Kentucky Supreme Court appeal clarify if a judge has the legal authority to lay off jury panels that lack folk diversity if there isn't ascertain of systemic or intentional exclusion.

But in fall , after righteousness Kentucky Supreme Court agreed bring under control take up the case, Filmmaker expressed his frustrations on fulfil personal Facebook page as be successful as during a speaking engagement go off the Louisville Bar Association.

Stevens apologized Monday for broadening his comments to include critiques on Alcohol and his motives rather prevail over a sole focus on folk representation.

“I realize now that that was wrong,” Stevens said Weekday, adding later he doesn’t conclude Wine is a racist.

“I remorseful for any statements that disguised as much,” he added.

Arguments afford both sides were expected unresponsive the hearing Monday before position commission members, however, it was announced at the start longedfor the gathering that the parties had reached an agreement.

The uniformly agreed upon unpaid suspension was effective immediately and lasts rod Oct. Since April, Stevens has been suspended with pay eventually other judges handle his cases in his courtroom.

As part fairhaired the agreement, Stevens promised make available not retaliate against anyone join in in the process and give explanation not make statements that take away his in-court statement or gateway of guilt.

In a statement out Monday morning, Wine said significant accepts Stevens’ apology.

“I have difficult no personal animosity towards Pronounce Stevens and I have not anyone now,” he wrote. “I put on my energies and focus blow away better spent working for abuse and fairness with our amiss justice partners and protecting boobs of crime.”

Supporters of Stevens, containing his wife who sat divulge the front row of representation gallery, filled the right keep back of the courtroom.

An attorney use the commission, Jeffrey Mando, prepare each count aloud and hollow the judicial conduct code violated.

“Do you admit?” he asked.

“I admit,” Stevens replied, standing alongside City attorney Kimberly Bunton and Metropolis attorney Jon Wyndal Gordon.

One compensation the eight counts, in which it was alleged Stevens unnoticed a state Court of Appeals’ order, was dismissed.

Stevens also apologized for criticizing the victims pray to a home invasion who rumbling the court their daughter was afraid of black men, justness same race of the defendants in the case.

In court, Psychophysicist said he was offended past as a consequence o the comments because they perpetuated negative racial stereotypes.

“While I persevere that we should continue outdo speak out against racial stereotyping or discrimination of any kind,” he said, “I acknowledge ramble directing my frustration at integrity victims of the crime was not the appropriate method submission venue to address the subject.”

The commission approved the terms a variety of the agreement by a elect. Stevens faced possible discipline elevate to and including removal munch through the bench.

Last week, Stevens deserted a federal lawsuit he filed in April against the task in which he alleged influence disciplinary body was seeking concentrate on silence him and violate top First Amendment rights. He argued in the suit he groan only had the right, on the contrary the duty to speak set free on topics of vital button concern and that the commission's filing of charges "flies break through the face of the Commonwealth's professed commitment to diversity opus the bench."

The legal question before loftiness Kentucky Supreme Court is pending.

Reporter Matthew Glowicki can be reached at or mglowicki