UPDATE: Jan. 22 at 12:20 p.m.
A Madison County judge has granted a request to move the jury selection and trial for Shannon Gilday to Shelby County, citing concerns about finding an impartial jury in the original venue.
According to court documents, Judge Cole Adams Maier ruled Wednesday that Gilday's trial for murder and related charges will be held in Shelby County, while pretrial proceedings will continue in Madison County.
Gilday faces one count of murder, three counts of attempted murder, one count of first-degree burglary, one count of first-degree criminal mischief, and related offenses stemming from a February 22, 2022, incident in Madison County.
According to the documents, the defense filed a petition for change of venue on November 26, 2025, arguing that extensive media coverage and community familiarity with the case would prevent a fair trial in Madison County.
"The Court finds a reasonable likelihood that seating an impartial jury in Madison County would be impaired by pervasive community familiarity with the events and individuals involved," Maier wrote in her order.
The judge noted that the Morgan family, who are victims and key witnesses in the case, are well-known in Madison County and have longstanding community ties. Court documents show the events have received sustained public attention and widespread media coverage in local and regional outlets.
The documents state that a survey submitted by the defense showed high levels of public familiarity with the case and measurable opinions on guilt and punishment among prospective jurors in Madison County. The Commonwealth did not file rebuttal surveys or evidence contesting these findings.
According to the documents, after consulting with victims, prosecutors did not object to transferring the case to Shelby County.
The court determined that Madison County and adjacent counties are part of the Lexington media market, while Shelby County is part of the Louisville media market, potentially reducing pretrial influence.
Under the order, the Madison County Circuit Clerk will retain the case record until directed to transmit it to Shelby County for jury trial proceedings. All pretrial matters will continue in Madison Circuit Court.
According to the documents, the Commonwealth had requested that survey participants be excluded from the Shelby County jury pool, but the judge denied this request as procedurally unavailable. Any impartiality challenges can be raised during jury selection.
Original Story:
Jordan Morgan's family returned to court Monday, sitting just feet away from the man prosecutors say shot and killed Morgan during a home invasion at her father's mansion in 2022.
They know when Shannon Gilday's trial will be — now they want to know where it will be.
"They're just anxious to get this rolling and get going," said Mica Nicole, a family friend.
In court, there was no final decision on where the trial will be, but prosecutors and the defense both indicated that moving it to Shelby County — about an hour away — would be agreeable. The defense argued Gilday can't get a fair trial in Madison County because of all the publicity around the case.
The judge is expected to make a final decision by the end of the week.
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"They move trials because they want an unbiased jury and to make sure there are no post-conviction issues," Nicole said.
Nicole says Morgan's parents and loved ones have waited four long, grueling years for Gilday to go to trial and say being in the same room with him isn't easy — but they're here for Jordan.
"It's awful — it's the worst thing I have to do. I hate it and I still come and we come every single time," Nicole said. "We have to sit within arms length of the man who has confessed to murdering our friend."
If Gilday is convicted, he could face the death penalty. He'll be back in court March 20 for another hearing as he gets closer to that May trial date.
