Justice
Kentucky’s new ‘random’ change of venue law challenged by game-machines industry
FRANKFORT — Plaintiffs challenging a new Kentucky law banning video game machines that pay cash prizes are asking a judge to halt another new Kentucky law that could send their lawsuit to a random circuit court across the state. Pace-O-Matic — a large manufacturer of what the company and other proponents call “skill-based” game machines […]
Kentucky Senate convicts former prosecutor in first impeachment trial in more than a century
FRANKFORT — In the first Kentucky Senate impeachment trial in more than a century, senators on Thursday unanimously convicted a former prosecutor who asked a defendant for nude images in exchange for prosecutorial favors.? The Kentucky Supreme Court suspended Ronnie Goldy — the former commonwealth’s attorney for the 21st Judicial Circuit serving Rowan, Menifee, Bath […]
Beshear signs two juvenile justice bills
Gov. Andy Beshear signed into law on Monday two bills passed by the legislature aimed at improving Kentucky’s juvenile justice system.? The first, House Bill 3, allocates around $20 million to renovate and operate a Jefferson County Youth Detention Center and a facility in Lyndon in Jefferson County. It will also mandate detention for the […]
Beshear signs Lofton’s Law, criminalizing hazing
Hazing that causes death or serious injury can be prosecuted as a felony in Kentucky under a bill that Gov. Andy Beshear signed Monday. Senate Bill 9, also known as Lofton’s Law, defines hazing in Kentucky statute and establishes penalties for the behavior. Hazing that leads to injury or death is a Class D felony, […]
Beshear vetoes bill allowing ‘random’ venue changes in cases challenging Kentucky laws, decisions
Calling it an “unconstitutional power grab,” Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear vetoed a Republican-backed bill Friday that allows a court case challenging the constitutionality of Kentucky laws and orders to be moved at random to a new courtroom across the state.? Senate Bill 126, sponsored by Sen. Jason Howell, R-Murray, would give plaintiffs, defendants and the […]
Legislature approves ‘random’ venue changes for Kentuckians challenging state laws, decisions
FRANKFORT — Kentuckians challenging the constitutionality of state laws and executive branch decisions could move their lawsuits across the state at random, under a Republican-backed bill approved by the legislature last week. Lawyers representing the state also would be entitled to random changes of venue. The sponsor, Sen. Jason Howell, R-Murray, called Senate Bill 126? […]
Lofton’s Law, criminalizing hazing, clears both chambers of Kentucky legislature
FRANKFORT —?The Kentucky House on Wednesday voted to make hazing that causes a death or serious injury a felony. Lofton’s Law – named after 18-year-old Thomas “Lofton” Hazelwood, a University of Kentucky freshman who died from alcohol poisoning at his fraternity house – was approved in the House by a vote of 97-3. The Senate […]
Anti-hazing Lofton’s Law passes House Judiciary Committee
FRANKFORT — An anti-hazing bill is one step closer to becoming law in Kentucky after a 15-1 vote by the House Judiciary Committee.? Known as Lofton’s Law, Senate Bill 9, was introduced after the death of 18-year-old Thomas “Lofton” Hazelwood, a University of Kentucky freshman who was found unconscious in Farmhouse Fraternity after drinking approximately […]
Bill mandating detention, opening crime records of some juveniles has cleared both chambers
FRANKFORT — A Republican-backed bill that would reopen a juvenile detention center in Louisville and open some minors’ confidential records has now cleared both chambers of the Kentucky legislature. House Bill 3 passed the House in late February and the Senate on Tuesday along party lines, 29-7. Democrats argued unsuccessfully against the bill’s mandatory detention […]
Juvenile justice would get more money, more scrutiny under bills approved by Kentucky Senate
FRANKFORT — The Kentucky Senate Tuesday unanimously passed two bills aimed at stemming what lawmakers called a crisis in Kentucky’s Department of Juvenile Justice. Senate Bill 162, sponsored by Sen. ?Danny Carroll, R-Benton, would allot more than $50 million for salaries, retention, new workers and security upgrades, including $30 million for workers in the adult […]
Two juvenile justice bills advance in Kentucky Senate. Here’s what they say.?
Two Senate bills aimed at addressing Kentucky’s juvenile justice issues cleared the Senate Appropriations and Revenue committee unanimously on Wednesday.? The first, SB162, would allot millions of dollars to the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ)? for salaries, retention, new workers, security upgrades and more – among other things.? Those price tags are: $3.2 million for […]
Torture a dog or cat? You could be charged with a felony under proposed Kentucky law??
Under a bipartisan bill that passed a House committee on Wednesday, Kentuckians who torture a dog or cat could be charged with a felony. House Bill 103 would make it a Class D felony to torture a domestic dog or cat. Two members of the House Standing Committee on Judiciary passed and 15 voted in […]