Panel reprimands Kentucky judge who jailed man for contempt without hearing
A Kentucky judge who sent one man to jail without a hearing and “strongly castigated” another has been reprimanded.
The state Judicial Conduct Commission issued the public reprimand against Circuit Judge Robert B. Conley on Wednesday.
Conley hears cases in Greenup and Lewis counties. He is running for a seat on the state Supreme Court against state Rep. Chris Harris, D-Forest Hills.
The commission said in its order that in Greenup County on Jan. 2, Conley told a man he should shut up after listening to him explain why he hadn’t made child-support payments.
Conley then questioned the man about who was responsible for making the payments, but when the man tried to answer, Conley banged his gavel and told the bailiff to send the man to jail, the commission said.
Conley did not conduct a hearing on holding the man in contempt of court or make written findings, the commission said.
The man spent three days in jail.
In another case the same day, Conley repeatedly raised his voice and slammed his hands on the bench while criticizing a man for not paying restitution in a criminal case and missing court hearings.
The commission said Conley violated ethics rules requiring judges to act in way that promotes public confidence in the independence, integrity and impartiality of the judiciary; to be fair and impartial; and to be patient, dignified and courteous.
Conley said he was suffering extreme fatigue from having the flu the day of the incidents and was remorseful, the commission said.
A reprimand is one of the lesser penalties the commission can impose.
This story was originally published September 9, 2020 at 5:11 PM.
