LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — A day after a spokeswoman for the family of a former University of Louisville cheerleader who died in a crash complained that her murder case took seven years to go to trial, the presiding judge explained the reasons for the delays .
The case against Bradley Caraway is “very unfortunately” taking a long time to resolve, Jefferson County District Court Judge Ann Bailey Smith said during a hearing Thursday.
“I really hope we can try to solve this case soon,” she said.
At the start of the status hearing, Bailey Smith said she wanted to explain “to anyone who is interested why this case has unfortunately continued in this court for so long.”
Shanae Moorman died in a crash on the ramp that connects Interstate 64 to the Gene Snyder Expressway in August 2016. Caraway, who was 34 at the time of the crash, was driving his 2014 Honda Accord at an “excessive rate of speed” around 3 a.m. , when it overturned and, according to the police, he “lost control of the vehicle”.
The car went off the left bank and overturned, ending up upside down. Moorman was thrown from the vehicle and pinned underneath. Police said she had to be extricated by first responders and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Caraway “fled the scene” and was spotted by an officer about 6:45 a.m. walking on the ramp from I-265 southbound to Taylorsville Road without a shirt or shoes, according to court records. He produced his driver’s license but refused to answer questions and asked for a lawyer.
Caraway, whose blood-alcohol level was “at least” twice the legal limit in Kentucky, is scheduled to go on trial Aug. 29 on charges of murder, driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident.
It is highly unusual for any criminal case, even a complex murder trial, to last seven years.
On Wednesday, through longtime family friend Lisa McGrew, Moorman’s parents, Shawne and Andrew, shared memories of their daughter and their frustration with the continued court delays.
“It’s time to figure out how to make this process efficient,” McGrew told WDRB News. “The justice system exists for a reason. But because of this case, it’s broken. And we just want it to be over. … There’s no justice. There’s no closure.”
McGrew asked if Bailey Smith would have allowed such a delay if her daughter had been killed.
“And she is a judge who is supposed to keep order in her courtroom.” McGrew said. “That’s her role. And we don’t think there’s any justice for Shanae.”
In a hearing Thursday, after WDRB questioned her about the delays a day earlier, Bailey Smith told the defense and prosecution she wanted to address the issue.
She said Caraway’s trial was originally scheduled for March 8, 2018. It is not unusual for a homicide case to take two years to go to trial, but the March 2018 trial was postponed at the request of prosecutors because DNA testing was not completed. , Bailey Smith said. The case was postponed to November 13 of the same year, but the prosecution again requested a continuation.
In a statement from the Commonwealth’s office Thursday, First Assistant Chief Erwin Robert said that “the Caraway case involves complex technical evidence with analysis of expert witnesses by the Commonwealth and the defense, laboratory analysis of DNA evidence, pre-trial proceedings on evidentiary issues and coordination of expert witness testimony in court .
“All these factors contributed to the delay of the case.”
The case was adjourned to March 5, 2019, but the judge said she was ill, and it was adjourned again to June 11. At that time, both the prosecution and the defense proposed that the trial be postponed again. The judge did not give a reason.
The next date was scheduled for April 14, 2020, but the Chief Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court has largely shut down the state’s court systems due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the order, all criminal and civil files except “urgent cases” were shelved.
“During the pandemic, we tried several dates in the hope that we would be able to attract the jury,” she said. “We couldn’t do that… As a result, we couldn’t try the case.”
Roberts, of the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, also noted that COVID caused numerous delays.
Caraway was then scheduled to go to trial last January, but “I can’t get my hands on the notes as to why we didn’t hear the case on that date,” Bailey Smith said.
The trial finally began last summer, but after a few days, Bailey Smith had to declare a mistrial on Aug. 1 when Caraway’s attorney, David Lambertus, fell ill, was hospitalized, and was unable to continue.
“This past summer, when we actually started the trial, I was definitely hoping that we would be able to complete the trial, but the fates weren’t in our favor and we didn’t,” Bailey Smith said.
Lambertus, meanwhile, has been replaced by defense attorney Rob Eggert. The change in attorneys further delayed the case, as Eggert had to review the evidence in the case and make up for years of motions and hearings. Thus, the case dragged on until August this year.
“This is the history of the case and why this case, unfortunately, very unfortunately, took so long for us to get a resolution,” Bailey Smith said.
Moorman, a senior at Louisville Boys’ High School, battled cystic fibrosis and used her illness to inspire others, according to McGrew, a family friend. She was known for her positive energy and enthusiasm, which she leaned on as a U of L cheerleader in college.
“She could give so much life and give so much love and so many more people to touch in a time when people need a bright light, she would be that,” McGrew said.
Caraway was released from jail shortly after his arrest and is awaiting trial. He was under house arrest until his release at the end of last year.
Bailey Smith set the next hearing date for May 25.
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Who are the judges in Kentucky?
District Judges
- Danny C. Reeves, Chief Justice. Read also : VIDEO: Chaos and gunfire erupt at Louisiana High School homecoming party, cheerleader wounded.
- Karen K. Caldwell.
- David L. Bunning.
- Gregory F. Van Tatenhove.
- Claria Horn Boom.
- Robert E. Wier.
Are judges elected in Kentucky? Divisions within the Kentucky Judicial Branch It consists of seven judges who are elected from seven appellate circuits and serve eight-year terms. The Chief Justice of the Commonwealth is elected by his peers and serves a four-year term.
How many judges are there in Kentucky? There are 60 judicial districts in Kentucky, served by 116 judges. These judges are chosen in non-partisan elections and serve four-year terms.
How many federal judges are in KY?
| United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky | |
|---|---|
| It refers to | Sixth Circuit |
| Established | February 12, 1901 |
| Judges | 5 |
| Chief Judge | Gregory N. Stivers |
How many federal judges are there currently? Number of Judges There are currently 870 authorized Article III judges: nine on the Supreme Court, 179 on the Courts of Appeals, 673 on the District Courts, and nine on the Court of International Trade. Read also : 🌱 New Library Branch Breaks Ground + Cheerleader Dies in Accident.
How many federal courts are there in Kentucky? Kentucky has two federal district courts, a state supreme court, a state court of appeals, and trial courts of general and limited jurisdiction.
Who is the youngest black judge in the United States?
Jasmine Twitty (born December 4, 1989) is an American District Court Judge in Easley, South Carolina. See the article : Minot’s cheerleaders won back-to-back state championships at West Fargo.
How old are most judges? Interestingly, the average age of judges is 40, which represents 65% of the population.
Who was the first black person to become a judge? Thurgood Marshall (July 2, 1908 – January 24, 1993) was an American civil rights attorney and jurist who served as an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court from 1967 to 1991. He was the first African Supreme Court judge. American Justice.
Who is the youngest Supreme Court judge? On 24 June 1946, Hidayatullah was appointed as an Additional Judge of this High Court of Central Provinces and Berar and on 13 September 1946 he was appointed as a Permanent Judge of the said High Court, where he served until he was elevated to the post of Chief Justice of the Nagpur High Court in 1954 December 3, 1954, as the youngest …
How long does it takes to become a judge?
How many years to become a judge? A: Four years of undergraduate education, three years of law school, and usually two or more years of active law practice are required to become a judge.
Is it worth becoming a judge? Being a judge is a lucrative and prestigious profession that usually offers extensive insurance benefits, sick leave, vacation and a post-retirement pension. The federal and state governments provide their elected and appointed judges with immunity protections to avoid civil suits for official misconduct.
Is it hard to get a job as a judge? Becoming a judge is difficult and requires years of hard work in the legal field. It generally takes more than a decade to become a judge. Becoming a judge is not easy, as judges are usually elected or appointed to their positions. You can apply to be a judge through the Judicial Nomination Commission.
