FRANKFORT, Ky., Feb. 11, 2025 – The Supreme Court of Kentucky will hear oral arguments Wednesday and Thursday in Frankfort. Proceedings are open to the public and will take place in the historic Supreme Court Courtroom on the second floor of the Capitol.
Stream arguments live or watch on demand later at ket.org/supremecourt.
Chief Justice of the Commonwealth Debra Hembree Lambert will preside over oral arguments for the first time since being sworn in as chief justice in December. These will also be the first Supreme Court oral arguments for Justice Pamela R. Goodwine since she took the oath of office for the Supreme Court.
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.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 12, 2025
10 a.m. EST
TIMOTHY S. HART, MD P.S.C. D/B/A HART FAMILY CARE V. COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY, KENTUCKY UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE COMMISSION, ET AL. (2023-SC-0117-DG)
View attorneys and links to briefs at https://kcoj.info/SCFeb2025.
Administrative Law. Unemployment Benefits. Misconduct. Issues include whether a medical office terminated a receptionist for misconduct when: (1) the receptionist interrupted a conversation between the employer and the office manager regarding potential problems with the phone system; and (2) the receptionist gave a sarcastic response to the employer’s confrontational question.
Goodwine, J., not sitting.
Discretionary Review Granted: August 16, 2023
Trial Court(s): Boyd Circuit Court
Presiding Judge(s): Hon. George Davis
11 a.m. EST
COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY V. DARRYL ELLERY (2023-SC-0228-DG)
View attorneys and links to briefs at https://kcoj.info/SCFeb2025.
Criminal Law. Probation Revocation. Jurisdiction. Fugitive Tolling Doctrine. Equity. Questions include whether the trial court lost jurisdiction when it failed to extend Ellery’s probation at his first appearance after his warrant for failure to comply with the terms of his probation was served. The Commonwealth seeks application of the “Fugitive Tolling Doctrine” to toll the running of the probationary period while an individual is a fugitive from justice.
Discretionary Review Granted: October 18, 2023
Trial Court(s): Jefferson Circuit Court
Presiding Judge(s): Hon. Audra Eckerle
2 p.m. EST
G.G., ET AL. V. CABINET FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES, ET AL. (2024-SC-0143-DGE)
View attorneys and links to briefs at https://kcoj.info/SCFeb2025.
Family Law. Joint Adoption. KRS 199.470. Unmarried Cohabitants. Issues include whether the adoption statutes permit an unmarried couple to jointly adopt a child.
Discretionary Review Granted: August 14, 2024
Trial Court(s): Jackson Circuit Court
Presiding Judge(s): Hon. Clint J. Harris
THURSDAY, FEB. 13, 2025
10 a.m. EST
BRANDON BLAIR V. COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY (2023-SC-0296-DG)
View attorneys and links to briefs at https://kcoj.info/SCFeb2025.
Criminal Law. Bail Jumping. KRS 520.070. Double Jeopardy. Issues include whether the defendant was properly charged with five counts of first- degree bail jumping when: (1) the defendant was charged with drug felonies in five separate cases; (2) the defendant was released on bond pending trial of the drug cases; (3) the circuit court scheduled all five drug cases for a single combined hearing; and (4) the defendant failed to appear for the single combined hearing.
Discretionary Review Granted: December 6, 2023
Trial Court(s): Johnson Circuit Court
Presiding Judge(s): Hon. John David Preston
11 a.m. EST
BOARD OF EDUCATION OF PARIS, KENTUCKY V. JASON EARLYWINE (2023-SC-0142-DG)
AND
JASON EARLYWINE V. BOARD OF EDUCATION OF PARIS, KENTUCKY (2023-SC-0383-DG)
View attorneys and links to briefs at https://kcoj.info/SCFeb2025.
Contracts. Education Law. Sovereign Immunity. KRS 45A.245. Questions include: (1) whether a teacher may sue a school board for breach of contract or if, instead, the school board is immune from suit; (2) whether such a suit, if allowed, must be brought in Franklin Circuit Court; and (3) whether the Court of Appeals’ application of KRS Chapter 161 was proper at this venture or, rather, the issues on appeal should have been limited to questions concerning immunity.
Discretionary Review Granted: August 16, 2023
Cross-Motion for Discretionary Review Granted: January 10, 2024
Trial Court(s): Franklin Circuit Court
Presiding Judge(s): Hon. Phillip J. Shepherd
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