By Josh Moon
Alabama Political Reporter
The Alabama Ethics Commission, on Wednesday, found cause to believe that Cullman County District Court Judge Kim Chaney violated state ethics laws by using his position for personal and/or family gain.
Ethics Commission Executive Director Tom Albritton said Chaney stands accused of directing criminal appointments – assigning representation of criminal defendants – to his son and his son’s law firm.
The Commission has forwarded the allegations and its recommendation on to the Alabama attorney general’s office for possible prosecution.
Chaney’s attorney, Augusta Dowd, told the Cullman Times on Wednesday that Chaney is innocent.
“Judge Chaney is a man of great integrity and honor, and I’m confident that once the full facts are out in front of the appropriate law enforcement agency, he will be cleared and exonerated,” Dowd told the Times.
The Ethics Commission’s five members, having reviewed evidence for and against Chaney, apparently disagreed.
Chaney has served as a judge in Cullman County since 1993 and is currently in his fifth term on the bench. He has also served the state’s Judicial Inquiry Commission – the group responsible for reviewing complaints against judges. The JIC was the group responsible for Roy Moore’s most recent removal from the bench.
Dowd also served on the JIC.
