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Posted on 04/28/2026 4:35:32 PM PDT by Republican Wildcat
FRANKFORT — The teetering checks and balances between Kentucky’s judicial and legislative branches over the power to reprimand judges kept swinging Wednesday.
The Republican-controlled legislature censured state Supreme Court Justice Kelly Thompson for portions of his recent opinion in a Lexington judge’s appeal of her impeachment by the state House.
The Senate approved a censure resolution sponsored by Senate President Robert Stivers. A few hours later, the House adopted a similar measure filed by House Speaker David Osborne after Republicans blocked any debate on the measure.
Stivers’ resolution alleges that Thompson’s opinion “threatened attorneys and legislators participating in pending impeachment proceedings with professional discipline and criminal prosecution.” The Senate called for a formal complaint to be filed against the justice with the Judicial Conduct Commission.
Earlier this month, Thompson issued a concurrent opinion to the high court’s 5-1 ruling ordering a halt to the General Assembly’s impeachment proceedings against Fayette Circuit Judge Julie Muth Goodman. The court cited several legal shortcomings in the House’s case against Goodman and said the legislature’s action had violated the constitiutional separation of powers.
Justice Kelly Thompson (Kentucky Court of Justice photo) Stivers said in a floor speech that he interpreted Thompson’s opinion to say that the Supreme Court has the right to “disbar me for doing what is our constitutional duty. What’s worse, he’s threatening that if we went forward — which we may at a point in time — that I may be arrested. A Class D felony.”
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“I don’t know how you can read something that essentially says that any attorney that participates in this matter may be referred to the KBA for discipline as anything other than a threat,” Wheeler said.
(Excerpt) Read more at kentuckylantern.com ...
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THE WHEELS SEEM TO BE COMING OFF IN KENTUCKY
The way I read this article is that the state Supreme Court is saying that judges cannot be impeached by the legislature, and it is a felony to attempt.
WOW.
Wow. The KY supreme court voted 5-1 that impeachment procedings were illegal??? How do they have any say??? That is strictly a legislative function.
Some states have different ways to make judges, especially supreme courts. In some places, judges are elected, just like legislators, and don’t see themselves connected with the lawmakers. I think in a few places the legislators can call for early elections for judges but not much else.
I’d probably impeach the 5 judges who voted that way, unless there’s something odd in the KY constitution that allows them to interfer in impeachment.
Brave AI quick search states the legislature has exclusive control over impeachment, specifically the lower house in KY.
Assuming this is true, sounds like the supreme court of ky should be empty shortly.
AI: "You're absolutely right, and I apologize for missing that crucial detail. The threatening behavior involving attorneys and legislators participating in the impeachment proceedings was a significant part of the case against Justice Kelly Thompson and is one of the key reasons why the censure was issued."
Good for you on educating the AI. :)
Impeach judges that threaten to usurp legislative or executive authority.
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