Defense attorneys for Shawn Mickey Stines are turning to the Kentucky Court of Appeals in hopes of blocking a second court ordered mental health evaluation. The request comes amid the ongoing legal proceedings regarding the September 2024 shooting death of Kevin Mullins, who was killed inside the judge’s chambers at the Letcher County Courthouse. Stines currently faces murder charges stemming from the incident.
The dispute centers on whether a second psychiatric exam is legally necessary or redundant. According to a petition for a writ of prohibition filed recently, Stines’ lawyers argue that their client has already fulfilled his obligations by undergoing an evaluation via the Kentucky Correctional Psychiatric Center. They claim that because prosecutors have not pointed out any specific flaws or errors in that first report, there is no justification for forcing him to undergo another interview with a different expert.
This latest move follows a decision by Judge Christopher Cohron, who previously ruled that a second examination by Indiana psychiatrist Dr. George Parker was reasonable and supported by good cause. However, the defense contends that such a requirement unfairly infringes upon Stines’ Fifth Amendment rights and could potentially expose sensitive defense strategies before they are presented in court. They suggest that if prosecutors want a second opinion, they should simply have an expert review the existing records rather than conducting a brand new session with the defendant.
With an evaluation date set for October 14, attorneys have filed an emergency motion asking the appellate court to step in immediately. They argue that once the examination takes place, any potential harm or violation of rights cannot be undone. As of now, the Court of Appeals has not issued a ruling on whether to halt the process or grant the petition to vacate the previous order.
