A judge refused to dismiss the murder indictment against a former Kentucky sheriff accused of gunning down a judge in his courthouse chambers, but will allow a bond hearing for the ex-lawman now jailed for more than a year, according to rulings released Thursday.

At the upcoming bond hearing, defense attorneys cannot discuss the contents of a sealed mental health evaluation of former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines, said Circuit Judge Christopher Cohron. A date for the hearing was not immediately set by Cohron, who serves as special judge in the case.

Cohron said in the ruling Wednesday that "a bail hearing is not a trial rehearsal.”

In granting the defense request for the bond hearing, the judge said: “The court will first hear evidence to determine whether the defendant i

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