In Letcher County, Kentucky, a courtroom drama unfolded as former Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines made a brief appearance before the court. Stines faces serious charges, accused of the shocking 2024 murder of District Judge Kevin Mullins, a crime that allegedly occurred within the judge’s chambers.

The proceedings were set to take place in the Letcher County Circuit Court at 1:30 p.m., where all pending motions were to be addressed. However, the hearing was abruptly postponed. Judge Christopher Cohron announced that an unexpected issue had arisen just before the session, necessitating a delay to resolve the matter before continuing with the case.

As a result, the court session was adjourned soon after it began, leaving observers waiting for the next steps in this high-profile case. As of Thursday afternoon, a new date for the hearing had yet to be determined. Stines is charged with first-degree murder and the murder of a public official, charges that have gripped the community following the tragic events of September 2024.

Court was adjourned shortly afterward. A rescheduled hearing date has not been set as of Thursday afternoon.

Stines has been accused of first-degree murder and murder of a public official after the shooting death of District Judge Kevin Mullins in September 2024.

Stines’ defense team had sought to have the indictments against him dismissed, but a judge ruled against that effort in early December.