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Kentucky Senate suspends impeachment proceedings for Judge Julie Muth Goodman pending Judicial Conduct Commission review
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Summary
The Senate adopted a resolution and committee report to stay further impeachment action against Fayette County Circuit Judge Julie Muth Goodman while the Judicial Conduct Commission conducts public proceedings; the resolution directs the commission to hold open hearings and preserves the legislature's impeachment powers.
The Kentucky Senate on April 15 unanimously adopted Senate Resolution 297, suspending further Senate impeachment proceedings in the matter of Judge Julie Muth Goodman pending the outcome of a Judicial Conduct Commission investigation and public proceedings.
Clerk read the resolution in full, reciting the House impeachment process that produced House Resolution 124 (adopted March 20 by a bipartisan 73–14 vote) and outlining dates and procedural steps the House and Senate have taken in the matter. The resolution states that, "The Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky suspends action on the articles of impeachment against Judge Goodman without deciding whether her conduct constitutes misdemeanors in office," and it directs the Judicial Conduct Commission to "immediately conduct open and public proceedings concerning serious allegations of misconduct by Julie Muth Goodman" and to take appropriate sanctioning action "upon a finding of good cause." (Clerk)
A separate report from the Senate hearing committee on impeachment recommended that further proceedings be stayed indefinitely pending the Judicial Conduct Commission investigation. The committee’s report — read to the full Senate and adopted without recorded opposition — emphasized that the stay should not be construed as a final resolution of the underlying allegations and that the Senate retains its constitutional rights and duties regarding impeachment.
Senate adoption of the resolution does not acquit or exonerate the judge; the text explicitly states the suspension "shall not be deemed an acquittal." The resolution cites sections of the Kentucky Constitution that assign impeachment powers to the General Assembly and recounts steps taken by the House impeachment committee, including the receipt of a citizen petition, the House’s referral, the House committee hearing and the transmittal of articles to the Senate.
The resolution and committee report direct legislative staff to collect and preserve materials related to the impeachment for referral to the Judicial Conduct Commission and for the legislative record. With the Senate’s action, further Senate consideration of the articles is stayed while the Judicial Conduct Commission proceeds according to the resolution’s instructions.
The Senate adopted the resolution and the committee report by voice vote; the clerk recorded "Ayes have it" on adoption.
