Fulton County, Ky.—A Kentucky Circuit Court Judge is cited for using Fulton County Jail inmates to help rebuild a church of which he was a member.
In a 66-page document, the Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission issued a formal notice of proceedings against First District Judge Timothy Langford.
Nine counts are cited, with two centered around the rebuilding of the West Hickman Baptist Church in Hickman. The church had earlier been destroyed by fire.
According to the notice, Judge Langford is being accused of contacting the Fulton Co. Detention Center numerous times to request inmates be allowed to help in the church reconstruction. He also is alleged to have requested the use of public equipment for the project.
He also is charged with issuing 300 hours of community service to felony criminal defendants, with the much of that work being performed at the church.
The judge has denied all the charges. In his response, Judge Langford said church officials were told that inmates could be used to help move materials, but not help in the actual construction. He also said that publicly-owned equipment may have been used, but he was not aware of it and did not request it.
An administrative hearing now will be set in the case.