Judge Denies Bid to Vacate 65-Year Murder Sentence
Julius Catlett Jr. has appealed a Kentucky circuit judge's decision to keep his 65-year sentence for a 2016 killing in place.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Criminal Justice
Circuit Judge Andrew Self denied a motion by Julius Catlett Jr. to vacate the 65-year sentence imposed in 2018 for the murder of Shaun Smith. Catlett has filed a notice of appeal, and the case is now before the Kentucky Court of Appeals.
Why it matters
The ruling leaves Catlett's sentence intact while the appeal proceeds, and it determines whether the conviction for the 2016 shooting death of Shaun Smith will be reviewed further. For Kentucky readers, the case shows how post-conviction challenges move from circuit court to the state appellate level.
Catlett remains lodged at the Roederer Correctional Complex in LaGrange, Kentucky, serving a 65-year term with credit for time served. The appeal of Judge Self's denial is pending, and the specific claims raised in the motion to vacate were not detailed in the available information.
The players
Julius Catlett Jr.
Catlett is the man convicted of murder in the 2016 killing of Shaun Smith and sentenced to 65 years in prison.
Andrew Self
Self is a Kentucky circuit judge who presided over Catlett's motion to vacate and denied the request.
Kentucky Court of Appeals
The Kentucky Court of Appeals is the state appellate court now reviewing Catlett's appeal of the denial.
The details
A jury convicted Catlett in 2018 of murder in the 2016 shooting at a party on Younglove Street, as well as possession of a handgun by a convicted felon and second-degree persistent felony offender status. In 2025 he moved to vacate the sentence, and Circuit Judge Andrew Self held an evidentiary hearing in April 2026 before denying the motion.
Timeline
2016: Shaun Smith was fatally shot at a party on Younglove Street.
2018: Catlett was sentenced to 65 years after a week-long trial.
2025: Catlett filed a motion to vacate his sentence.
April 2026: An evidentiary hearing was held on the motion.
Legal Context
Post-conviction motions to vacate in Kentucky follow the procedure set out in Rule 11.42 of the Kentucky Rules of Criminal Procedure, which allows defendants to challenge a judgment after direct appeals end. This case follows that path, with an evidentiary hearing in circuit court followed by appellate review.
The appeal could eventually change Catlett's sentence or leave it in place, affecting how long he remains in state custody. Residents following Kentucky criminal cases can track the matter through the Kentucky Court of Appeals as it proceeds.
The takeaway
Post-conviction challenges can extend a case for years after trial, and readers following similar matters should watch for appellate rulings that determine whether a sentence stands. Keeping track of court filings helps explain why a sentence imposed years earlier can still be under review.
Further reading
Follow more coverage of Criminal Justice developments across Kentucky courts.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Whopam.
