Two Judges Divide Over Kevorkian

DETROIT — An assisted-suicide charge against retired pathologist Jack Kevorkian was dismissed by one judge Tuesday, while another judge ordered him to stand trial for the death of a Lou Gehrig’s disease patient.

The suburban judge who ordered the trial also refused to lower Kevorkian’s $50,000 bond despite his attorney’s appeal for a “Christmas amnesty” and a promise that his client would refrain from aiding any more suicides for now.

Kevorkian, who has refused solid food for two weeks to protest his jailing, was behind bars Tuesday afternoon when Wayne County Circuit Judge Richard Kaufman dropped the charge and formally struck down Michigan’s law banning assisted suicide. The judge had ruled Monday that the law was unconstitutional.

Kevorkian, 65, has been present at 20 suicides since 1990.

After hearing two witnesses, Royal Oak District Judge Daniel Sawicki ruled there was enough evidence to try Kevorkian on a charge that he helped Merian Frederick commit suicide on Oct. 22 by inhaling carbon monoxide.