Mere moments before adjourning the 2026 session late Wednesday night, the Kentucky House referred open impeachment petitions against two elected officials to an oversight committee that can act during the interim, including one seeking to remove a sitting Kentucky Supreme Court justice.
Lawmakers recommitted the petitions from the House impeachment committee to the Legislative Oversight and Investigation Committee, a bipartisan panel that can meet year-round and has subpoena power.
Although the impeachment committee dismissed petitions against two officials and recommended impeachment for Fayette Circuit Judge Julie Muth Goodman, it did not take final action on petitions targeting Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Pamela Goodwine and Fayette County Board of Education Chairman Tyler Murphy.
Rep. Jason Nemes, a Louisville Republican and chair of the House impeachment committee, said in late March that the committee would not meet again during the session to consider the Goodwine and Murphy petitions.
Now under the oversight committee, lawmakers can continue hearings on the potential removal of both officials and issue subpoenas for testimony and documents, according to Nemes and a GOP House spokesperson.
Nemes noted the committee can investigate but cannot vote to recommend articles of impeachment. Only the impeachment committee can take that step during a regular session, which would not occur until at least 2027.
Goodwine’s attorney, Carmine Iaccarino, told Kentucky Public Radio on Thursday morning that he was unaware of the referral and had no immediate comment.
A Louisville attorney and GOP official, Jack Richardson, filed the impeachment petition against Goodwine last year, alleging a conflict of interest for not recusing herself from a case involving the Jefferson County Board of Education’s challenge to a law limiting the board’s authority.
The petition argues that spending by a Louisville teachers union on PAC ads supporting Goodwine required her recusal. In response, Iaccarino submitted a 15-page letter stating there was no legal or ethical requirement for her to step aside and argued that impeachment would overturn the will of voters who elected her by a wide margin.
The petition seeking Murphy’s removal from the Lexington school board was filed by Rep. Matt Lockett of Nicholasville, citing financial issues in the district under Murphy’s leadership. Lawmakers also passed a bill this session preventing school board members in Jefferson or Fayette counties from working as employees in another district, a measure the sponsor said currently applies only to Murphy, who teaches in Boyle County.
Another impeachment petition, filed Tuesday, sought to remove Fayette Family Court Judge Ross Ewing but was not referred to the impeachment committee before the General Assembly adjourned the next day.
Goodwine is not the only Kentucky Supreme Court justice facing criticism. Before adjournment, both the House and Senate passed resolutions to censure Justice Kelly Thompson. Republican lawmakers said his concurring opinion in a ruling that struck down the House impeachment of Judge Goodman was “intemperate” and threatening.
Leave a Reply