Judge Nance found guilty of misconduct

The Commonwealth of Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission has released the verdict in the case of a family court judge charged with misconduct.

Judge W. Mitchell Nance, Family Court Judge for Barren and Metcalfe Counties was found guilty of judicial misconduct in a hearing last Friday.

Judge Nance was charged with misconduct on September 11, 2017 after declaring that “under no circumstance” would the adoption of a child by a homosexual be in the child’s best interest. Nance ordered that any attorney filing a motion for adoption on behalf of a homosexual party notify court staff so that he could recuse and disqualify himself from any such proceeding.

The Judicial Conduct Commission found by making those rules he violated several Canons of the code of the Judicial Conduct.

Because of Nance’s retirement, the commission found that a public reprimand was warranted, and was the only public sanction available.

Neither Nance nor his attorney appeared in court for the hearing.

Read the full findings by clicking