Nashville Judge Casey Moreland Resigns From Bench, Released From Jail

NASHVILLE, TN – Davidson County General Sessions Judge Casey Moreland, facing obstruction of justice and witness tampering charges, has resigned from the bench.

During his first appearance in federal court Friday, Moreland's attorney announced the judge had sent a resignation letter to the mayor's office.

"Given the current circumstances, I recognize this is the right and honorable thing to do. I have always been proud to serve the citizens and residents of Davidson County and to work with the many fine judges that have and continue to serve on the bench," he wrote.

A federal magistrate said Moreland would not have to remain detained while awaiting trial, though he imposed a number of conditions on the ex-judge.

Moreland will be confined from his home, only allowed out once next to week to clean out his office. He cannot have a cell phone.

During the hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Cecil VanDevender said Moreland kept a list of 13 people labeled as "witnesses" on his iPhone, including the woman the FBI said Moreland paid $6,000 to recant allegations against him. Moreland is also accused of engineering a scheme by which that woman would be pulled over after she had drugs planted on her.

Moreland has been alleged to have intervened in a traffic stop for that woman, with whom he had a sexual relationship.

Court documents claim that in December 2015, Moreland wrote a letter urging the state to remove the ignition interlock device from her car and then told the woman he would have to work overtime and that she would have to come to his office and "play secretary."

“I expect a lot from my employees,” Moreland wrote her, according to the documents, adding, “I wasn’t referring to your typing skills!”

Image via Grayson County (Ky.) Sheriff's Department