A Central Kentucky judge has been formally reprimanded for yelling at juvenile defendants and other misconduct, according to an agreed order released Friday by the Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission.
The commission found that District Judge Bolton Bevins violated the Code of Judicial Conduct by engaging in “hostile, impatient, undignified and discourteous conduct demonstrating bias, lack of impartiality, lack of judicial decorum and abuse of judicial authority.”
According to the reprimand, Bevins “waived formal proceedings” and “has agreed to this disposition,” signing the order Thursday.
The document states that he “has already implemented corrective measures” and “has committed to receiving additional training and mentoring.”
Bevins serves in the 14th Judicial District, which includes Bourbon, Scott, and Woodford counties.
The commission also found that he violated conduct rules through a “failure to exercise judicial temperament” and a “failure to follow the law,” citing “gross, persistent and unrestrained erroneous use of the contempt power” and failure to follow proper legal procedures.
In one example from June 2024, Bevins did not allow a juvenile defendant or their attorney to respond to questions. During that case, he “angrily stated that he was tired of listening to the ‘medical excuse crap’ and told the defendant to ‘Go!’” When the juvenile attempted to leave, the reprimand states that “Bevins raised his voice and addressed the defendant in a very loud and inappropriate manner stating, ‘get back in here.’”
In another case, Bevins said he would sentence a defendant to two weeks in jail for failing a grade and did not allow the defense attorney to argue against the decision.
In a February 2025 case, the reprimand says Bevins warned a juvenile who missed a day of school that “if the defendant missed one more day of school, he would send him to jail,” after he “abruptly raised his voice and banged on the desk.”
During the same hearing, he “raised his voice and very loudly stated, ‘no, I don’t want to hear anything’ and ‘get out’” when the defendant’s mother tried to speak.
In March 2025, Bevins presided over an arraignment involving a defendant who required an interpreter but did not have an attorney present.
During that hearing, he said, “what kind of mental defect” would cause such behavior, according to the order. When the defendant tried to respond, stating the circumstances were not as alleged, Bevins ordered her not to speak.
The commission concluded that Bevins violated five rules of judicial conduct.
“All of these actions by Judge Bevins demonstrate bias, a lack of impartiality, a lack of judicial decorum, an abuse of judicial authority and undermine public confidence in the integrity, impartiality and independence of the judiciary,” the reprimand states.
Leave a Comment