The defense attorneys for former Letcher County Sheriff Mickey Stines have asked the judge in his murder trial to recuse himself because they think he was too friendly with the victim.
Stines is charged with murder for the September 2024 shooting death of Letcher District Judge Kevin Mullins in the judges’ chambers.
Stines’ attorneys plan to plead not guilty by reason of insanity due to extreme emotional distress.
Court documents filed this week by the defense include a video showing special judge Christopher Cohron attending a meeting of the Kentucky Judicial Commission on Mental Health alongside Mullins just a week before Mullins’ death and claim Cohron’s failure to disclose that could indicate bias.
There are no hearings currently set.