A father embroiled in a legal battle has accused a Kentucky state court of judicial misconduct, alleging fabricated evidence and bias in a custody case involving his children. On November 17, 2025, Johnny Ray Walls-Bey filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona against Hon. Stephanie Perlow, Hon. Jason Shea Fleming, James E. Bruce Jr., and Alexis Jordan Austin.
The case presents a dramatic narrative where Walls-Bey claims that former Judge Jason Shea Fleming admitted to fabricating evidence to assert jurisdiction over him and his children, who are tribal members residing in Arizona since July 2024. The successor judge, Stephanie Perlow, is accused of perpetuating this fraud by imposing procedural barriers that hinder Walls-Bey’s attempts to challenge the court’s jurisdiction. Walls-Bey argues that these actions have violated his constitutional rights under the Fourteenth Amendment and seeks federal intervention under several statutes including 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA).
Walls-Bey’s complaint details how Judge Fleming falsely attributed evidence to defendant Alexis Jordan Austin to establish Kentucky as the “home state” for jurisdictional purposes. Despite acknowledging this misconduct, attorney James E. Bruce Jr., representing Austin, continued to argue against Walls-Bey’s claims of judicial impropriety. The complaint highlights an October 29 order from Judge Perlow demanding Walls-Bey appear with his children in Kentucky—a move he contends would undermine his jurisdictional objections.
The plaintiff is seeking multiple forms of relief from the court: a temporary restraining order to halt enforcement of orders requiring his appearance in Kentucky; preliminary and permanent injunctions declaring the Kentucky court’s jurisdiction void due to fraud; recognition of exclusive tribal court jurisdiction; invalidation of all orders from the Kentucky proceedings; and compensation for attorneys’ fees.
Representing himself pro se, Johnny Ray Walls-Bey is challenging what he describes as an egregious breach of judicial integrity that necessitates federal oversight to protect fundamental rights and uphold tribal sovereignty as intended by ICWA.
Attorneys involved include James E. Bruce Jr., while Judges Stephanie Perlow and Jason Shea Fleming are named defendants. The case ID is CV25-04315-PHX-MTL.
Source: 225cv04315_Walls_Bey_v_Perlow_Complaint_District_Arizona.pdf
