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Former judge reprimanded for sexual tryst with defendant

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A former Kentucky judge has been reprimanded for having sex with a woman while he was presiding over her felony criminal case.

The Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission reprimanded the judge Friday. The commission says Ronnie C. Dortch had a relationship with the woman from 2014 to 2015 and discussed the case with her outside of court.

The commission says since the judge retired last month, a reprimand was the strongest punishment it could dole out.

The order does not identify the woman, what she was charged with or the outcome of her case. A commission spokesman declined to give more details. A call to a listed number for Dortch was not immediately returned.

Dortch was appointed to the 38th judicial circuit in 1992 and won three elections.

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