Judge Jamie Jameson suspended for pressuring lawyer to support reelection campaign

HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. — A Kentucky judge was suspended with shell out on Friday adhering to testimony that he pressured a law firm training in his courtroom to assistance his reelection marketing campaign.

Kentucky Judicial Perform Fee voted 3-2 to suspend 42nd Judicial Circuit Choose Jamie Jameson following a daylong listening to in which he informed commissioners they had been being utilised for political reasons, The Paducah Sunlight noted.

The hearing included testimony from attorney Lisa DeRenard that Jameson regularly questioned her to aid his reelection marketing campaign towards community defender Andrea Moore. DeRenard felt pressured to donate to his campaign, which she did several instances, she reported.

She also testified that Jameson “put her on the spot” at a fundraising party, inquiring her to communicate in assist of his marketing campaign. And she mentioned Jameson pressured her to make a bar complaint from Amy Harwood-Jackson, a public defender who supports his opponent.

Also testifying was Marshall County Sheriff Eddie McGuire, who mentioned Jameson questioned him to have a courthouse deputy removed from the setting up soon after a safety video clip of Jameson was disseminated. Jameson contended the deputy posed a safety hazard, nevertheless he talked about in his textual content concept to McGuire that he considered the deputy was performing in the fascination of his opponent.

Jameson was also accused of unbecoming perform. The panel considered a number of films exhibiting Jameson’s courtroom demeanor and use of his contempt electrical power.

Jameson termed character witnesses on his behalf, including local lawyers and a circuit clerk who praised his actions as skilled and stated he taken care of defendants, attorneys and law enforcement with respect.

Jameson also took the stand in his possess protection. He admitted that his conduct in the movies could have reflected a quick induce or been the result of significantly nerve-racking days, but he largely defended his steps as necessary to protect courtroom decorum and punish unacceptable behavior. In one particular testy trade, Jameson instructed commissioners he believed they ended up getting used for political applications.

Adhering to the vote, Jameson termed it “part of modern-day-day politics,” and explained he would “stay the program.”