Carroll County Fiscal Court hires retired Judge Steven L. Bates Sr. as conflict counsel after objections

The Carroll County Fiscal Court voted on June 2, 2026 to authorize the county judge executive to retain retired Judge Steven L. Bates Sr. as conflict counsel to advise the Carroll County Ethics Commission.

A court speaker summarized prior objections filed by Danny Maiden, who argued that Bates and others had disqualifying relationships. "Quite frankly, I feel like it's completely without merit," the court speaker said of Maiden's objections, adding that KRS chapter 65 (the statute cited by Maiden) applies to criminal special prosecutors and not to this administrative appointment. The speaker said Steven Bates Jr. had declined the appointment and that Bates Sr., a retired circuit judge with decades on the bench, had agreed to serve and would charge $200 per hour.

The speaker emphasized that Bates Sr.'s role would be advisory — "he's merely advising the ethics commission on what the law is, how the ordinance reads, and helping them through the process" — and would not involve Bates Sr. deciding outcomes for the ethics commission. After discussion, a motion to retain Bates Sr. was made, seconded, and approved by voice vote; the transcript records "I" for approval but contains no roll-call tally.

Danny Maiden's objections were entered into the record and were discussed by the court speaker, who said the letters had been shared with the proposed counsel. The court did not record any change to the ordinance itself; the vote authorized the judge executive to enter into a contract with Bates Sr. for conflict counsel services.

The transcript indicates Bates Sr. would bill $200 per hour; contract terms and any budgetary appropriation to cover that expense were not specified during the meeting.