(LEX 18) A chief circuit court judge at the center of an LEX 18 Investigates piece now faces a fifth charge of official misconduct by the Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission.

Judge Beth Maze presides over court in Montgomery, Menifee, Rowan and Bath Counties. She is currently suspended with pay pending the outcome of her case. According to the JCC, Maze directed 100 plus syndicate drug cases to be transferred to her court, despite a previous agreement to split them between her and another judge.

The Judicial Conduct Commission reports that Maze or her staff also tried to see if any of the confidential informants were involved in her ex-husband’s criminal drug case. The JCC charged her with four previous counts of official misconduct when she ordered two drug tests after the arrest of her ex-husband last fall, as LEX 18 reported in August.

Maze admitted to us that she signed it and that the Commonwealth’s Attorney and Bath County Attorney were aware of one of the orders when, in fact, they were not.

Judge Maze denies wrongdoing and told us in August she stands by her fair and ethical record as a circuit judge for 18 years. At this time, these are only allegations by the Judicial Conduct Commission.