LOUISVILLE — An arrest warrant for former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin has been temporarily lifted following an emergency order from the state Court of Appeals.
The order came three days after Jefferson Family Court Judge Angela Johnson sentenced Bevin to 60 days in jail for contempt of court, citing his failure to produce financial records in a year-long legal dispute with his estranged son, Jonah Bevin.
Appeals Judge Audra Eckerle granted Bevin’s emergency petition, setting aside the warrant for now. She found that Johnson issued the sentencing order after Bevin filed a motion asking the Kentucky Supreme Court to remove her from the case over alleged bias.
Eckerle wrote that under Kentucky law, once such a motion is filed, “the trial judge is without further jurisdiction” until the state’s chief justice decides whether the judge should be removed.
The order also noted that a panel of the Court of Appeals will review the merits of Bevin’s claim.
In his emergency filing, Bevin described the judge’s decision as “a desperate attempt to retain power over the pending case so she could issue an order of arrest against Matt and receive the resulting media exposure.”
It added, “Enforcement of such an order would cause irreparable injury to Matt which would be so ruinous in nature that it cannot be allowed to proceed.”
John H. Helmers Jr., an attorney for Jonah Bevin, emphasized that the appeals court decision is not final.
“We consider this a temporary reprieve for Matt Bevin,” Helmers said. “Ultimately, he will need to comply with the family court’s orders and produce the mandatory documents. For now, we will continue to focus on representing Jonah Bevin and ensuring his access to the courts.”
Judge Johnson is overseeing the divorce case between Matt Bevin and his ex-wife, Glenna, in which Jonah has intervened seeking support. He alleges his parents abandoned him at age 17 in a youth facility in Jamaica.
Now 19, Jonah is one of four children the Bevins adopted from Ethiopia in 2012.
The warrant, signed March 24, ordered Bevin to serve 60 days in jail or pay a $500 bond and provide the requested records. As of Friday morning, it was unclear whether Bevin had returned to Kentucky after attending a recent hearing by Zoom.
The appeals ruling adds further complications to the case. A March 27 hearing on whether Jonah is entitled to child support and educational assistance had already been delayed after Bevin sought to have the judge removed.
In a statement, Jonah said the delay was discouraging and described his current situation living with acquaintances in Utah without support.
“Every day I wake up worried about where I’m going to sleep and how I’m going to eat,” he said. “I’m trying my best, but I feel like I’m on my own.”
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