NEWPORT -- In the shadow of at least one complaint filed before the Tennessee Court of the Judiciary, Cocke County General Sessions Judge John Bell has temporarily stepped down from hearing criminal cases involving misdemeanor probations.

According to an order filed in sessions court on Monday, Judge Bell's decision not to hear those criminal cases is temporary until the resolution of a complaint filed before the court of the judiciary by Newport resident Dan Metcalf.

The judge is also asking the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts to appoint a special judge to hear criminal cases in which misdemeanor probation through general sessions court in Cocke County could be an issue until Metcalf's complaint is resolved.

Although Metcalf's complaint is not directly related to questions about misdemeanor probation in General Sessions Court, the issue is one part of the series of events which led to the filing of the complaint.

Questions have been raised concerning whether it is a conflict of interest for a company operated by the judge's brother-in-law to oversee probationers in General Sessions Court.

East Tennessee Probation, operated by Tommy Large, who is married to the judge's wife's sister, is the company contracted to oversee misdemeanor probation in Sessions Court. Questions have been raised about whether this arrangement represents a conflict of interest for Judge Bell.

The order Bell issued on Monday says that Metcalf filed the complaint with the Court of the Judiciary in February 2006 and the complaint is currently being processed by that court