Cathy Prewitt
Read the Judicial Conduct Commission order here.
A local judge has agreed to serve a seven-day suspension, without pay, for violating the Code of Judicial conduct in regards to a case brought before her last year.
Cathy Prewitt, district judge in Whitley and McCreary Counties, will serve her suspension beginning Aug. 27 through Sept. 7 following an agreement reached with the Judicial Conduct Commission. The agreement was released Monday. It was dated July 10.
According to the "agreed order of suspension," Prewitt changed the bond of Steven Hinkle from $25,000 to $50,000 on May 12, 2014 without notice or a hearing. The change ocurred when Hinkle’s mother, Alma Ruth Hinkle, was attempting to pay the bond at the Whitley Circuit Clerk’s office.
Later that day during, during a hearing regarding Steven Hinkle’s case, Prewitt held Alma Ruth Hinkle in contempt of court and ordered her to serve 24 hours in jail for allegedly calling her a "bitch" while she was in the clerk’s office to pay the bond. The comment was made outside of Judge Prewitt’s presence. Alma Hinkle was held in contempt "without notice, a hearing, or the opportunity for Ms. Hinkle to have legal counsel present."
