UPDATE: April 8 at 4:30 p.m.
Attorneys for Fayette Circuit Judge Julie Muth Goodman are calling the Kentucky Supreme Court's decision to halt her impeachment a victory against what the say is government overreach.
"Judge Goodman is grateful that the Kentucky Supreme Court has put a stop to the unlawful and unjust impeachment proceedings brought by the House," her attorneys said.
The statement, released by attorneys Robert McBride, Mitchel Denham, and Katherine Yunker, said the ruling restores the ability of judges to rule based on law and facts without the threat of impeachment. They called on the state Senate to dismiss the articles of impeachment.
"The strength of our democratic institutions depends on each branch honoring the boundaries the Kentucky Constitution has established," the attorneys said.
The attorneys argued the House compounded errors by passing vague articles of impeachment that violated Goodman's due process rights. They noted a misdemeanor in office requires criminal conduct or extraordinary acts of moral turpitude, not complaints about controversial rulings.
The Kentucky Supreme Court halted the impeachment proceedings on April 6, declaring the articles void. Chief Justice Lambert ordered the General Assembly to dismiss the proceedings.
The court ruled the initial petition, filed by former state representative Killian Timoney, lacked a sworn affidavit and did not allege actual impeachable offenses or criminal wrongdoing.
UPDATE: April 8 at 12:30 p.m.
Senate President Robert Stivers says the chamber is reviewing the Kentucky Supreme Court's order against continuing impeachment proceedings for Fayette Circuit Judge Julie Muth Goodman.
"The Senate is aware of the opinion issued by the Kentucky Supreme Court and is carefully reviewing its implications," Stivers said. "There have been longstanding concerns within the legal community about the conduct at issue, and I am encouraged that the judicial branch, per the opinion, is now taking a more active role in examining those concerns."
Stivers noted that attorneys have expressed hesitation about filing formal complaints against judges due to fear of professional repercussions or negative impacts on their clients.
"The Senate’s focus remains on carrying out its duties as outlined in the Constitution of Kentucky, that each branch of government operates with integrity and that concerns about judicial conduct can be raised and addressed without fear of retaliation," Stivers said.
UPDATE: April 6 at 3 p.m.
The Kentucky Supreme Court has halted the impeachment proceedings against Fayette Circuit Judge Julie Goodman, declaring the articles of impeachment void.
In an opinion issued on April 6, Chief Justice Lambert ordered the General Assembly to dismiss the proceedings and enjoined the legislature from taking further action against Goodman. The court ruled the initial impeachment petition, filed by former state representative Killian Timoney, was invalid because it lacked a sworn affidavit.
The court also determined the petition did not allege actual impeachable offenses or criminal wrongdoing. The justices noted that disagreements over a judge's rulings should be addressed through the appellate process or the Judicial Conduct Commission, rather than the legislature.
Previously, the Kentucky House of Representatives voted 73-14 to impeach Goodman. She was accused of abusing her office in a way that breaks the public's trust. Six cases were cited in the articles of impeachment, including one involving a fatal hit-and-run.
If the state Senate had voted to convict, Goodman would have been the first sitting judge removed from office this way in more than 100 years.
UPDATE: March 25 at 12 p.m.
Judge Julie Goodman has filed an emergency motion on Tuesday asking the state Supreme Court to halt impeachment proceeding scheduled to begin on April 6.
UPDATE: March 20 at 7 p.m.
On Friday, the Kentucky House of Representatives voted 73-14 to impeach Fayette Circuit Judge Julie Goodman.
If the state senate votes to do the same, Goodman would be the first sitting judge removed from office this way in more than 100 years.
Goodman has not been charged with criminal wrongdoing. She is accused of abusing her office in a way that breaks the public's trust. Six cases are cited in the articles of impeachment, including one that involves a fatal hit-and-run.
Before the vote, some house Democrats spoke up and said there has been no showing of a high misdemeanor or crime in office. House Minority Leader Pamela Stevenson questioned the articles of impeachment.
"The standard has not been met here - where is the crime?" Stevenson said.
Republican Jason Nemes, who chaired the impeachment committee, said Goodman has not followed the law.
"If you say the law says this but I'm going to do that instead then you do not deserve the black robe that you have been entrusted with," Nemes said.
On Monday, Goodman defended her decisions and said some are seeking impeachment because they disagree with her rulings. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said Thursday that impeaching a judge would set a dangerous precedent.
"I think the precedent, if any, is set is that we understand what inappropriate behavior is," said House Speaker David Osborne.
House Resolution 124 now heads to the State Senate for a trial to decide whether to remove Goodman from office.
UPDATE: March 20 at 11:45 a.m.
The Kentucky House has voted to impeach Fayette County Circuit Judge Julie Muth Goodman in a 73-14 vote. The motion now moves to the Senate.
Original Story:
The Kentucky House of Representatives has introduced Articles of Impeachment against Fayette County Circuit Judge Julie Muth Goodman, recommending her removal from office for alleged misdemeanors, including abuse of power and defying state laws.
The resolution follows a citizen petition filed on Jan. 28 that accused Goodman of abusing her judicial discretion and authority across six specific court cases in the 22nd Judicial Circuit.
The House Impeachment Committee held a hearing on March 16 to review the allegations. The committee heard testimony from Goodman, her attorneys, and Kimberly Baird, the Commonwealth's attorney for the 22nd Judicial Circuit. The committee also heard from Doug Botkin, the surviving spouse of a victim killed in a vehicle collision involved in one of the cited cases.
Following an independent review of the testimony and Goodman's actions, the committee found the citizen petition valid and declared that Goodman committed misdemeanors in office.
The resolution outlines five Articles of Impeachment against Goodman. The articles charge her with:
- Abusing the powers of her office;
- Defying binding precedents established by the highest courts of the Commonwealth;
- Defying statutes enacted by the General Assembly and rules of the Kentucky Court of Justice; and
- Interfering with the rights and powers of the grand jury, trial court jurors, and attorneys to perform their roles.
Following the adoption of the resolution, the Speaker of the House will appoint a committee and staff to prosecute the articles. The chair of that committee is required to lay the Articles of Impeachment before the Kentucky Senate within five days.
