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Carroll County authorizes retired Judge Stephen Bates to serve as conflict counsel for Ethics Commission at $200/hr
Summary
The Fiscal Court approved a resolution authorizing Judge Executive David Wilhoite to contract with retired Judge Stephen Bates Sr. to serve as conflict counsel to the Carroll County Ethics Commission at a stated rate of $200 per hour; County Attorney Nick Marsh described earlier complaints about appearances of familiarity as "frivolous."
Carroll County Fiscal Court voted on June 2, 2026, to authorize the County Judge/Executive to enter into a contract with retired Judge Stephen Bates Sr. to serve as conflict counsel for the Carroll County Ethics Commission at a proposed rate of $200 per hour. County Attorney Nick Marsh explained that Attorney Stephen Bates Jr. had been under consideration but had declined the offer; earlier, Danny Maiden filed a complaint claiming Bates Jr. and others were friends. Marsh described those complaints as "frivolous," and emphasized the role would be advisory rather than prosecutorial.
The minutes record that Magistrate Scott Nab moved to have the resolution read and Magistrate Benjie Long seconded; after County Attorney Marsh read the resolution, Magistrate Long moved to accept it and Magistrate Nab seconded. The motion carried 3-0. The minutes do not include a contract execution date, a contract term length, or whether Bates Sr. accepted the position after the vote.
The record shows the court considered potential appearance-of-bias concerns raised by a local resident (Danny Maiden) and addressed them during the discussion; the minutes reflect County Attorney Marsh's view that the concerns were without merit but do not record an independent investigation or a statement from the complainant.
