A judge in Pikeville has reportedly recused himself from overseeing a case due to an
apparent conflict of interest.
On Monday, Judge Eddy Coleman dismissed himself from a vehicular homicide trial for defendant Chad Blackburn who was arrested in July 2024 for a crash that killed one person and seriously injured another.
Investigators allege Blackburn was under the influence.
The Appalachian News Express reports the person killed in the crash was Linda Wright, the mother of Pike County District Court Judge Robbie Wright.
Judge Coleman said he felt he could be fair but was concerned for how it would appear if he remained as the judge.
A new judge will be appointed.