The general counsel for Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear ordered the sheriff accused of gunning down a judge in his chambers to resign by the end of the week or face removal proceedings.

In a letter Wednesday, S. Travis Mayo told Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines that if he does not tender his resignation to the Letcher county judge/executive by the end of Friday that he will move forward with removing Stines under a state law that allows governors to fire peace officers for neglect.

Stines, who pleaded not guilty to a charge of first-degree murder in connection with the Sept. 19 shooting of District Judge Kevin Mullins, has 20 days to prepare a defense, according to the statute.

Mullins, 54, was shot multiple times and pronounced dead at the scene. Stines, 43, surrendered to authorities at the courthouse without incident.

The Letcher County Sheriff’s Office could not be reached for comment Thursday. A lawyer representing Stines in a 2022 federal civil case accusing him of failing to adequately train and supervise a deputy accused of abuse did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Letcher County Judge/Executive Terry Adams did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A Kentucky State Police spokesman has said the shooting at the Letcher County courthouse occurred after an argument inside the building. Authorities have not disclosed a possible motive.

Three days before the shooting, Stines was deposed for nearly four hours in connection with the federal lawsuit, which alleges the deputy abused a woman inside Mullins’ chambers, according to the victim’s lawyer.

A filing in the case from Stines’ lawyer argued that Stines was protected from being sued over the allegations because of his position as an elected official and law enforcement officer.

Asked if state police are investigating a potential link between the suit and the shooting, a spokesman for the agency, Matt Gayheart, said “nothing is being ruled out as a possible motive at this point.”

Jonathan Shaw, the lawyer representing Stines in the lawsuit, said he did not know anything about the shooting other than what has been reported in the news.

“I hope that in time we will have a clearer understanding of the circumstances that led to Judge Mullins’ death,” Shaw said in an email.