The University of the Cumberlands will be playing host to the Supreme Court of Kentucky on April 13-14 as the justices will hear oral arguments in five cases. Proceedings will take place in the Kohn Theatre.
The public is invited to attend in person or watch via livestream at ket.org/supremecourt.
Hosting oral arguments on campus provides a unique opportunity for students to observe the judicial process firsthand and gain a deeper understanding of how legal decisions are made at the state’s highest court.
Event tickets can be secured at https://www.ucumberlands.edu/events/kentucky-supreme-court-cumberlands.
The Supreme Court is the state court of last resort and the final interpreter of Kentucky law. Seven justices sit on the Kentucky Supreme Court and all seven justices rule on appeals that come before the court. Unlike justices on the federal Supreme Court, Kentucky justices are elected from seven appellate districts and serve eight-year terms.
A chief justice, chosen for a four-year term by fellow justices, is the administrative head of the state’s court system and is responsible for its operation. The Supreme Court may order a ruling or opinion to be published, which means that the ruling becomes the case law governing all similar cases in the future in Kentucky.
The Supreme Court of Kentucky normally conducts court in Frankfort. In 1985, as part of a public education program the justices travelled to Louisville to hear oral arguments, which was the first time a state Supreme Court session was held outside Frankfort.
Since that time, sessions have been conducted in locations throughout the state. Additionally, when the Capitol closed this year for a multiyear renovation, an opportunity opened for the Supreme Court to hear arguments in other locations, according to a Kentucky Court of Justice release.
Cases scheduled for argument during the UC visit include:
Monday, April 13
- Shelly Damron v. Commonwealth of Kentucky – concerns a 2018 Letcher County criminal case.
- Mercy Regional Emergency Medical System, LLC, et al. v. Estate of Joshua Adam Fuson, et al. –concerns a 2019 McCracken County civil case.
Tuesday, April 14
- Daniel J. Carey, II, D.C., et al. v. Craig Heligman, M.D., et al. – concerns a 2018 Greenup County civil case.
- Daniel J. Carey, II, D.C., et al. v. CSX Transportation, INC. – concerns a 2018 Greenup County civil case.
- CSX Transportation, INC. V. Daniel J. Carey, II, D.C., et al. – concerns a 2018 Greenup County civil case.
In addition to oral arguments, University of the Cumberlands will host several educational events designed to connect students directly with members of the Court.
On April 14, the university will host a reception for justices and select pre-law students. During this invite-only event, justices will be paired with small groups of students for informal conversation and Q&A, offering insight into the legal profession, law school preparation, career pathways and public service.
The opportunity reflects University of the Cumberlands’ commitment to a student-centered approach, where experiential learning and personal interaction with leaders in the field help prepare students for meaningful careers, UC wrote in a release.
Later that evening, the university will host a panel discussion titled “The Work of Justice: Decision-Making and Service in Kentucky’s Courts.”
The panel will feature Chief Justice Debra Hembree Lambert and other members of the Court and will explore the role of the judiciary, the decision-making process, and the impact of the courts on communities throughout the Commonwealth.
