4 years, 11 months ago by Scott Hardy
Judge Sue Myerscough's daughter works for Exoneration Project
Lawyers for the City of Quincy, 6 Quincy police officers, Adams County and a current and former county office holder want the judge presiding over the civil suit filed by Curtis Lovelace to not hear the case, due to a possible conflict of interest.
At a video conference call earlier this month, Federal judge Sue Myerscough revealed to those attorneys and Lovelace's lawyers that her daughter works for the Exoneration Project. The group handled Lovelace's defense at his 2017 murder re-trial. They're also handling the civil suit filed by Lovelace, his wife Christine and their three sons. Lawyers for the City and County want Myerscough to recuse herself. The Exoneration Project disagrees, saying that Lauren Myerscough-Mueller isn't acting as a lawyer in the case, and "has been completely screened" from any matters in front of Judge Myerscough. An order Tuesday from Myerscough gave the City and County until June 3rd to file a motion for her to step down from the case.
Lovelace has filed suit against the City, County, QPD Chief Rob Copley, five other officers, State's Attorney Gary Farha and former Coroner Jim Keller. The former Adams County Assistant State's Attorney claims evidence was withheld from his defense during both his 2016 and 2017 murder trials, and that the QPD tried to frame him. Lovelace filed the suit two months after he was acquitted by a Springfield jury at his re-trial. Lovelace has not specified what damages he's asking for.
