Pubdate: Wed, 07 Feb 2007
Source: Tuscaloosa News, The (AL)
Copyright: 2007 The Tuscaloosa News
Contact:  http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1665
Author: Robert DeWitt,  Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

DRUG TRIAL SET FOR FORMER JUDGE

Former District Judge Ira Colvin faces drug charges.

CARROLLTON -- The trial of former Pickens County District Judge Ira 
Colvin, arrested last year on drug possession charges, is tentatively 
set for December.

Defense attorney Jim Standridge and William Dill of the Alabama 
Attorney General's Office met with Circuit Judge Scott Donaldson 
Tuesday in Carrollton for a status hearing. Colvin was not present. 
Donaldson set the trial date and said a pretrial hearing for motions 
would be scheduled.

Colvin resigned his judgeship in August after a Pickens County grand 
jury indicted him for methamphetamine possession. A search of his 
office allegedly produced a small amount of methamphetamine.

Mississippi authorities arrested Colvin earlier in Columbus, Miss., 
for methamphetamine possession and possessing materials to 
manufacture Methamphetamine earlier in August. He was arrested along 
with Ashley Watkins of Gordo while trying to purchase ingredients to 
make methamphetamine.

Watkins has also been charged with methamphetamine possession in 
Alabama. But the cases are not directly related. Cynthia Bochman had 
represented Watkins but had to leave the case when she joined the 
24th Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office. Attorney Mary 
Turner now represents her.

Both presiding Circuit Judge James Moore and District Attorney Chris 
McCool recused themselves from the case. McCool asked the Alabama 
Attorney General's Office to prosecute the case. Donaldson, a 
Tuscaloosa County Judge, was appointed to hear it.

Gov. Bob Riley appointed W.O. "Buddy" Kirk to fill the vacancy left 
by Colvin's resignation.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman