Alabama Judge Seeking Guidance Over Son’s Arrest

The attorney general’s staff has told a Montgomery judge that he should step aside from the trial of a major ethics case because the attorney general’s office is prosecuting his son on an attempted murder charge.

Circuit Judge Johnny Hardwick said during a court hearing Thursday he will seek the advice of the state Judicial Inquiry Commission about whether his continued involvement might create an appearance of bias. Hardwick says he’ll also seek advice about what he should do about his other cases from the attorney general’s office.

Hardwick is scheduled to preside over the ethics trial of former state education official Deann Stone and her husband. It involves $24 million in grants.

The attorney general’s office is prosecuting the judge’s son because the Montgomery district attorney stepped aside.

 

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