(WKYT) – A Kentucky Supreme Court order is keeping Special Judge Christopher Cohron on the case against Shawn “Mickey” Stines in Letcher Circuit Court.
The court denied Stines’ motion to disqualify or recuse Cohron, which argued the judge’s impartiality could be questioned after Cohron and victim Kevin Mullins attended the same Kentucky Judicial Commission on Mental Health meeting on Sept. 12, 2024, shortly before the shooting.
In the April 18th order, the deputy chief justice said the facts alleged—shared attendance and sitting near each other at a professional meeting—do not show a relationship or circumstances that would lead a reasonable person to question impartiality.
The denial is without prejudice, meaning a party can still seek appellate review after a final judgment.