Embattled Garfield Co. judge resigns, cites dementia diagnosis

ENID, Okla. (KFOR) — Garfield County Associate District Court Judge Brian Lovell, who was indicted in two shooting cases from 2023, submitted his resignation letter to Governor Kevin Stitt on Monday, citing a recent dementia diagnosis.

Lovell was previously indicted for a road rage shooting in Austin, Texas, and for a drive-by shooting at his brother-in-law's home in Bison, Oklahoma. Prosecutors said shell casings connected Lovell to both shootings.

As first reported by the Enid News & Eagle, Lovell sent a letter to Governor Stitt, announcing his immediate resignation on Monday. In the letter, he specifies that the decision to resign comes solely as a result of his recent dementia diagnosis.

The full letter can be read below.

Dear Governor Stitt,

During the last several weeks I have undergone a psychiatric evaluation of myself and certain behavioral disturbances in order to determine the cause of these disturbances. In that regard I was evaluated by Dr. Jason Beaman, D.O. M.S.S.P., FAPA, Chair of the School of Forensic Sciences, Forensic Psychiatry fellowship Assistant Director, Assistant Professor, Oklahoma State University for Health Sciences. Recently, Dr. Beaman was selected to be the chief medical officer of the Department of Mental Health of the State of Oklahoma.

Dr. Beaman is a board certified forensic psychiatrist and a board certified psychiatrist and highly respected in his field. Following the evaluation, he made his diagnosis based upon my evaluation, discussion with my friends and family, and reviewing the available records. He concluded that "It is my opinion, to a reasonable degree of medical certainty, that Judge Lovell has the diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia." He has furnished a full report of his evaluation and I have confidence in his conclusion, given his experience, education, academic rank, and his status as the chief medical officer for the Department of Mental Health of Oklahoma, as well as a professor of psychiatry.

This diagnosis, according to Dr. Beaman, explains the behavioral disturbances that have been attributed to me in the past, and which to me and to my family seem totally out of character for me. I have also received other medical diagnoses of my physical condition. Both Dr. Beaman's diagnosis, the results of MRI and CT Scans, surgical operations and procedures and their findings convince me that I am no longer able, in good faith, to continue as a member of the judiciary. The disease that I have been diagnosed with is progressive, there is no known cure, it can only be medically managed until death. It has been my honor and privilege to serve the people of the State of Oklahoma.

Brian Lovell, Former Garfield County Associate District Court Judge