Actions

KY Family Court judge issues, recalls bench warrant for former Gov. Matt Bevin

Friday's bench warrant was the second active warrant issued against Bevin in 2026. The first was issued in March.

Timothy D. Easley/AP

FILE - In this Nov. 14, 2019, file photo, Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin speaks with reporters in Frankfort, Ky., as he conceded the gubernatorial race to Democrat challenger Andy Beshear. Kentucky lawmakers advanced a proposal Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022, to limit a governor's pardon powers, reflecting the anger still burning over former Gov. Bevin's flurry of last-minute pardons in late 2019. The proposed constitutional change would prevent the former Republican governor's successors from doing the same thing in their final days in office. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley, File)

By: Mack Carmack

Posted

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (LEX NEWS) — Jefferson County Civil District Circuit, Family Court Judge Angela Johnson both issued and recalled a bench warrant against former Gov. Matt Bevin for failure to appear in court on Friday. This issued bench warrant marks the second warrant Johnson has issued against Bevin in 2026, as the first was issued on March 27.

The warrant was issued against Bevin after he appeared in a court hearing on Friday via Zoom, when he was previously asked to appear in court in person. As video from the hearing revealed, Bevin claimed he failed to appear in person due to ongoing property damage at his home.

"I told you to be here. We told you multiple times to be here and reminded you to be here on Wednesday. Now based on what I've glanced at, you have the means to get a flight here. Property damage is not a sufficient excuse," Johnson told Bevin in court.

The penalty for failure to appear in court is 14 days served in jail or a fine of $250. The bench warrant has since been recalled by Johnson, according to Jefferson County Family Court documents.

The hearing was scheduled as a part of an ongoing dissolution of marriage case between Bevin and his ex-wife, Glenna Bevins, over their son, Jonah Bevin, assigned to Judge Johnson.

In March, Bevin's attorneys claimed that Johnson should be removed from the case, stating she could not provide him a fair trial as she appeared to be motivated by bias against him. According to a court order filed in April, Johnson denied Bevin's request to disqualify herself from the case.

Aside from the bench warrant, also filed in court on Friday was a respondent's notice of production against Bevin requesting evidence and records for attorneys to counsel Jonah. Such requested documents included Bevin's checking account statements, Bevin's 2026 salary statement, and the marital settlement agreement filed between Glenna and Bevins.

Bevin is next scheduled to appear in court on July 28 at 9 a.m. in Jefferson County Family Court, according to documents.

See LEX News' previous coverage of this story below:

Judge involved in Matt Bevin's child support case declines to recuse herself