RUSSELL SPRINGS:
Kentucky Executive Ethics Branch publicizes the GUIDE TO THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH CODE OF ETHICS which can be found at their website. This guide states that under Kentucky Nepotism laws:
“Specifically, employees may not interview, recommend, or approve family members for positions within their employing agencies. They should not directly supervise a family member, evaluate a family members job performance, or participate in an action relating to the discipline of a member of the public servants family”. Page 5.
Upon entering the 57th Judicial Circuit Commonwealth Attorneys office in 2007 Matthew Leveridge promptly hired his wife Bernadette Leveridge as an Assistant Commonwealth Attorney. As of December 2008; Matthew Leveridge makes eight thousand, eight hundred and twelve dollars in a full time position per month. Bernadette Leveridge makes two thousand, nine hundred and seventy dollars per month working only part time.
Most state employees only work a 37 hour week. That plus assuming Bernadette Leveridge works at least 18.5 hours equals a 45.5 hour workweek for the Leveridges combined. Now computing their joint salary at $11,782.00 per month; The Leveridges bring home before taxes over a one hundred and forty thousand per year.
Moreover, Bernadette Leveridge also maintains a part time private law office located within the Commonwealth Attorneys Office. She has been observed conducting her private law office transactions while in her public office during Russell County grand jury hearings. This too brings up questions about the transparency of the office and the co- mingling of funds and resources between Bernadette Leveridges private law office and the Commonwealth Attorneys Office which are located in the same building.
Exceptions
In speaking with the Executive Branch Ethics Commission the US Justice Watch has learned that employees hired before 2004 can be grandfathered in as exemption from this nepotism law. However since Bernadette Leveridge was not hired until 2007, her husband Matthew Leveridge cannot claim she is grandfathered in under that provision.
There is also protracted litigation by the Kentucky Commonwealth Attorneys Association in Pike County Kentucky claiming that Commonwealth Attorneys are not a part of the Executive Branch and therefore claim not bound by its ethic rules. However, that case which has been dragging its feet for years does have any effect and cannot be ruled retroactive in the Leveridge case.
Future Implications
The US Justice Watch cannot confirm or deny whether a complaint has been filed with the Executive Ethics Branch concerning the nepotism hiring of Bernadette Leveridge by her husband Matthew Leveridge and the co-mingling of funds and resources in the combined private and Commonwealth Attorneys office due to confidentiality restraints. However, the US Justice Watch can confirm that it has requested an audit from Crit Luallen and to speak before the Office of Attorney Generals Prosecutors Advisory Council concerning the ongoing systemic problems occurring in the 57th Judicial Circuit Commonwealth Attorneys Office.
