The governor of Kentucky is calling on the sheriff accused of fatally shooting a judge to resign

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear's general counsel ordered the sheriff accused of shooting a judge in his office to resign by the end of the week or face removal proceedings.

In a letter on Wednesday, S. Travis Mayo told Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines that if he does not submit his resignation to the Letcher County judge/administrator by the end of Friday, he will move forward with Stines' removal in accordance with state law that allows governors to fire peace officers for neglect.

Stines, who pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the Sept. 19 shooting of District Judge Kevin Mullins, has 20 days under the law to prepare a defense.

Mullins, 54, was shot multiple times and pronounced dead at the scene. Stines, 43, surrendered to authorities at the courthouse without incident.

The Letcher County Sheriff's Office could not be reached for comment Thursday. An attorney representing Stines in a 2022 federal civil case accusing him of failing to adequately train and supervise a deputy accused of abuse did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Letcher County Judge-Executive Terry Adams did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A Kentucky State Police spokesman said the shooting at the Letcher County Courthouse occurred after an argument inside the building. Authorities did not provide any information about a possible motive.

Three days before the shooting, Stines was deposed for nearly four hours in connection with the federal lawsuit alleging the deputy abused a woman in Mullins' chambers, according to the victim's attorney.

A filing from Stines' attorney argued that Stines was protected from being sued over the allegations because of his position as an elected official and law enforcement officer.

Asked whether state police are investigating a possible connection between the complaint and the shooting, agency spokesman Matt Gayheart said, “Nothing is being ruled out as a possible motive at this time.”

Jonathan Shaw, the attorney representing Stines in the lawsuit, said he knew nothing about the shooting other than what had been reported in the news.

“I hope that over time we will have a clearer understanding of the circumstances that led to Judge Mullins’ death,” Shaw said in an email.