The investitures are open to the public, but seating is limited.
FRANKFORT, KY (Jan. 3, 2025) – The Supreme Court of Kentucky will have formal investiture ceremonies next week for Chief Justice of the Commonwealth-elect Debra Hembree Lambert and incoming justice Pamela R. Goodwine. The events will take place in the historic Supreme Court Courtroom on the second floor of the Capitol.
The investitures mark several historic events for the Supreme Court. Justice Lambert will become the commonwealth’s first woman chief justice. Judge Goodwine will be the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court. And this will be the first time the court will be made up of a majority of female justices.
The investitures are open to the public, but seating is limited. Stream the investitures live or view them later on demand at ket.org/supremecourt.
Justice Lambert, who now serves as deputy chief justice, will be sworn in as chief justice at 2:30 p.m. EST Tuesday, Jan. 7, by Chief Justice of the Commonwealth Laurance B. VanMeter. The chief justice is the administrative head of the court system and is responsible for its operations.
Justice Lambert is the justice for the 3rd Supreme Court District, which is made up of 25 Eastern Kentucky counties. She was elected as a justice in November 2018 and was the first chair of the Kentucky Judicial Commission on Mental Health, a groundbreaking commission that focuses on improving the judicial response to cases involving mental health, substance use and intellectual disabilities.
Speakers will include Gov. Andy Beshear, Senate President Robert Stivers, Speaker of the House David W. Osborne, Circuit Judge Gregory A. Lay (Knox and Laurel counties) and Justice Lambert’s son, attorney Joseph P. Lambert.
Judge Goodwine will be sworn in as a justice at 1:30 p.m. EST Friday, Jan. 10, by Chief Justice VanMeter.
Judge Goodwine was elected in November to succeed Chief Justice VanMeter as the justice for the 5th Supreme Court District, which is made up of Bourbon, Clark, Fayette, Franklin, Jessamine, Madison, Scott and Woodford counties. She was serving as deputy chief judge of the Court of Appeals when she was elected to the Supreme Court.
Speakers will include Gov. Beshear and attorney Barbara Edelman, a partner at Dinsmore & Shohl. Fayette County District Court Judge Melissa Moore Murphy will lead a singing of “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
Supreme Court of Kentucky
The Supreme Court of Kentucky is the state court of last resort and the final interpreter of Kentucky law. Seven justices sit on the court and all seven justices rule on appeals before the court. The justices are elected from seven Supreme Court districts and serve eight-year terms. A chief justice, chosen for a four-year term by his or her fellow justices, is the administrative head of the state court system and is responsible for overseeing its operations. In addition, the Supreme Court establishes rules of practice and procedure for all Kentucky judges and attorneys.
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