By Jim Balloch
Knoxville News-Sentinel
MADISONVILLE, Tenn. — Late last year, the lawyer for Jessica Kennedy, awaiting trial in the killing of Monroe County businessman and political figure Jim Miller, filed a motion asking for her to be moved out of the Monroe County Jail because she feared for her safety.
Special Judge Walter Kurtz denied the motion but described Kennedy’s concerns as “legitimate.”
Exactly what or who Kennedy feared is not part of the publicly available court record. The motion was filed under seal, and it remains sealed, even though Kurtz’s order denying the transfer request is part of the record.
“There is no reason for the court to order a transfer,” Kurtz wrote, and he said there was no evidence presented that the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office was not already providing a “safe and proper” environment for Kennedy.
“The court is concerned, however, that (Kennedy’s) legitimate concerns for her personal safety have not been effectively communicated to the sheriff,” the judge added.
He ordered authorities from the Sheriff’s Office to meet with Kennedy and lawyer John Eldridge to address those concerns.
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Eldridge told the News Sentinel that the meeting occurred. But because his original motion remains sealed, he said he could not discuss its contents, or what steps were taken following the court-ordered meeting.