Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, has been named a recipient of the 2025 Chief Justice’s Special Service Award, one of the highest honors presented by the Supreme Court of Kentucky and the state’s judicial branch of government.
The Chief Justice’s Special Service Award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to Kentucky’s legal system, promoting justice, improving court operations, and advancing the rule of law across the commonwealth. Stivers received the award Thursday (June 5) during a Kentucky Bar Association event in Covington.
“As Senate President, it’s my responsibility to champion fairness, defend constitutional rights, and ensure Kentucky’s justice system serves every citizen,” Stivers said. “That work doesn’t happen in a vacuum, and it takes collaboration across our co-equal branches of government to deliver real results. I’m honored by this recognition from Chief Justice Debra Lambert and the judicial branch, and I remain committed to building a stronger, more just Kentucky for all.”
Stivers represents Kentucky’s 25th Senate District, including Clay, Jackson, Knox, McCreary, Owsley, and Whitley counties. Beginning as the Senate majority floor leader in 2008, he became the Senate president in 2013 and represents the body of the Kentucky Senate. As of Jan. 1, Stivers is in his 13th year of service as Kentucky Senate president. In September, he will be the longest-serving Senate president in Kentucky history.
Stivers has been honored by Governing Magazine as a Public Official of the Year, is past chair of the Southern Legislative Conference, the largest regional association for legislators in the country, and past chair of the Council of State Governments, the only national organization serving all three branches of state government. Stivers is also past chair of the Senate President’s Forum, another national organization, and is still on their Board of Directors.
As a practicing attorney, Stivers passionately upholds the principle that every person is innocent until proven guilty and proudly stands for the inalienable rights enshrined in the United States Bill of Rights — the foundation of justice and freedom in our democracy.
The Chief Justice’s Special Service Award is presented annually by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Kentucky to honor individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to bettering Kentucky’s courts and the residents they serve.
In addition to Stivers, Senator Brandon Storm and a few Kentucky House of Representatives members have also been named 2025 recipients, recognizing the legislature’s collaborative efforts to support Kentucky’s judiciary and legal community.
