Hearing on Hideaway postponed after bar’s neighbors accuse judge of bias

A hearing scheduled for Friday on a liquor license for The Hideaway has been postponed.

The neighborhood group opposed to the bar reopening filed a motion last Friday to have the judge in the case recused.

According to a spokesperson for the Administrative Law Court that was set to hear the case, it has been reassigned and the new judge was looking for available dates in January.

Hideaway owner Lonzie Hershner said someone from the neighborhood group opposing the bar reopening charged the judge with possible bias.

“They’re just trying to push it out as far as possible,” he said.

But he said this was the last possible protest.

“That was their last straw,” he said.

Homeowner groups filed objections to the bar reopening based on concerns about parking, late night noise, drugs, sex and prostitution in the area.

Hershner also said lease negotiations on the Drama Room are almost complete. The landlord posted a “for lease” sign as a threat during the negotiations, he said.