Kentucky Supreme Court officials have denied a request to remove a judge in the case of former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines, according to court records filed April 18.
Stines is charged with murder in connection with the death of District Judge Kevin Mullins in September 2024. Video shown during initial court proceedings reportedly shows Stines firing multiple shots toward Mullins after a conversation inside Mullins’ office at the Letcher County Courthouse.
Court documents state that Stines filed a motion in December 2025 seeking to remove Circuit Court Judge Christopher Cohron from the case. In a March 31 affidavit, Stines cited a video showing Cohron and Mullins seated “inches apart” just seven days before the shooting during a Kentucky Judicial Commission on Mental Health meeting.
“The relationship between the presiding judge and the alleged victim, including their service together on the same committee and the proximity to the events at issue in this case, creates circumstances under which a reasonable person could question the presiding judge’s impartiality,” Stines wrote. “Based upon the foregoing facts, I believe that I cannot receive a fair and impartial trial before the Honorable Christopher Cohron.”
Kentucky Supreme Court Deputy Chief Justice Robert Conley denied the request on April 18, stating that “a party’s mere belief that the judge will not afford a fair and impartial trial is not sufficient grounds to require recusal,” and noting that no evidence submitted supports questioning Cohron’s impartiality.
It remains unclear when Stines will next appear in court.
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