FRANKFORT, Ky., Jan. 6, 2023 – The Supreme Court of Kentucky will have formal investiture services next week for Chief Justice of the Commonwealth Laurance B. VanMeter and new associate justices Angela McCormick Bisig and Kelly Thompson. The ceremonies will take place at 2 p.m. ET Jan. 9, 10 and 11 in the historic Supreme Court Courtroom on the second floor of the Capitol. The events are open to the public. Seating is limited.
Kentucky Educational Television will livestream the ceremonies at www.ket.org/ky-supreme-court.
Chief Justice John D. Minton Jr. (ret.), who retired in December, will swear in Chief Justice VanMeter on Monday, Jan. 9. Gov. Andy Beshear, Senate President Robert Stivers and Speaker of the House David W. Osborne will be among speakers at the ceremony.
Justice VanMeter’s fellow justices elected him for a four-year term as chief justice that started Jan. 2. The chief justice is the administrative head of the state court system and is responsible for its operation. Chief Justice VanMeter is the justice for the 5th Supreme Court District, which is made up of Bourbon, Clark, Fayette, Franklin, Jessamine, Madison, Scott and Woodford counties.
On Tuesday, Jan. 10, Chief Justice VanMeter will swear in Justice Bisig. Justice Lisabeth T. Hughes (ret.), who retired in December, will introduce Justice Bisig before she takes the oath of office. Justice Bisig was elected in November to succeed Justice Hughes as the justice for the 4th Supreme Court District, which is composed of Jefferson County. Judge Bisig was serving as a Jefferson Circuit Court judge when she was elected to the Supreme Court.
Justice Thompson will take the oath of office Wednesday, Jan. 11. Chief Justice Minton, his predecessor as the justice from the 2nd Supreme Court District, will swear him in. The district is made up of Allen, Barren, Breckinridge, Bullitt, Butler, Hancock, Hardin, LaRue, Meade, Monroe, Ohio, Simpson, Spencer and Warren counties. Justice Thompson was serving as a Court of Appeals judge when he was elected to the Supreme Court in November.
Supreme Court of Kentucky
The Supreme Court is the state court of last resort and the final interpreter of Kentucky law. Seven justices sit on the Supreme Court and all seven justices rule on appeals that come before the court. The justices are elected from seven appellate districts and serve eight-year terms. A chief justice, chosen for a four-year term by fellow justices, is the administrative head of the state’s court system and is responsible for its operation. The Supreme Court may order a ruling or opinion to be published, which means that the ruling becomes the case law governing all similar cases in the future in Kentucky.
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