{Frankfort, Kentucky}...The Kentucky Supreme Court has denied former Harlan County Circuit Judge Russell Alred's bid to return to the bench after the state's Judicial Conduct Commission found him guilty of nine counts of misconduct in September, saying he used his office for political and personal gain. Alred, who was elected in 2006, appealed, saying the judicial panel was duped by people with a political agenda. The Supreme Court upheld eight counts of misconduct and reversed one. Accusations against Alred included that he directed local government leaders to spend $500,000 in forfeited bond money to build a water park in Harlan County and that he appointed a special grand jury in April 2010 to investigate alleged drug dealing by county Judge-Executive Joe Grieshop, who was being opposed for re-election by Alred's cousin. The commission said Alred tried to discredit Grieshop as the election approached. A grand jury exonerated Grieshop.
