LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) – According to one of the few people to interview him, Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge Olu Stevens wants to keep his job.
Doctor Boyce Watkins is a Louisville native with 'Your Black World Coalition'. The professor and activist interviews people involved in the civil rights movement. He says people around the world are closely watching this case and what happens to Judge Stevens.
Dr. Watkins interviewed Stevens shortly after the judge signed his mediation agreement with Jefferson County Commonwealth's Attorney Tom Wine.
Watkins has been watching the case unfold and did not expect his interview would be mentioned in the latest filing by Tom Wine. Wine asked the State Supreme Court Chief Justice to toss the mediated agreement with Judge Stevens and remove him from criminal cases tried by the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office.
"When I heard it happened I was a little bit surprised," Dr. Watkins said. "But then again though, I really think there are people who really want to distract from the core issue here and I think that's kind of unfortunate for the State of Kentucky."
Doctor Watkins see the actions of Judge Stevens as noble and thinks the messages and social media posts cited by Tom Wine's latest filing are insignificant in the big picture.
"What Judge Stevens did by making the move, it really isn't happening anywhere else even though people around the world identify with the issue," Dr. Watkins said. "So, when Judge Stevens himself had the courage to find creative ways to share his voice with the world, I think there are a lot of people who really appreciated that."
He was left with the impression that Judge Stevens wants to keep his job but it's hard for Dr. Watkins to predict what the Chief Justice will do. Watkins does have definite take on what removing Judge Stevens will mean for The Commonwealth.
"It's not going to look good for people in the State of Kentucky, particularly democrats who claim to be friends of the black community," Watkins said. "You are not going to be seen as a friend of the black community if you remove the one black judge that black people admire the most."
There was no ruling Tuesday and it's unclear how long it will take for Chief Justice John Minton to fully review the case.
