A well-known East Alabama lawyer and former state senator has been removed from the state court’s appointee list.
Seventh Judicial Circuit Court Chief Judge Shannon Page issued an administrative order prohibiting 78-year-old attorney Doug Ghee from assigning cases to defend indigent individuals.
The order does not apply to cases in which Ghee is acting as an attorney.
The Seventh Judicial District includes Calhoun and Cleburne Counties.
In addition, the order gives the judges permission to recuse themselves from all of Ghee’s ongoing cases. Four judges have recused themselves from all of Ghee’s cases – Judge Page, Judge Jennifer Weems, Judge Tom Wright and Judge Tim Burgess.
The order does not provide a reason for Ghee’s removal from the appointment list, and Page said he could not discuss the matter further at this time.
The order was issued at the end of July.
Also in late July, Calhoun County Sheriff Matthew Wade confirmed that an investigation was underway into an alleged incident at the Calhoun County Jail involving an attorney and a female inmate.
Wade said he could not identify the attorney’s name, but added that the investigation by the sheriff’s office and the Alabama Attorney General’s office is still ongoing.
“Until the investigation is complete, we cannot discuss the circumstances,” Wade said. “As sheriff, it is my duty to find out the truth and ensure justice.”
Ghee did not immediately return a call seeking comment on the judge’s order.
Ghee began practicing law in 1975 and served in the Alabama Legislature from 1990 to 1998.