The Commonwealth will have a new Chief Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court come 2025, as the justices voted to elect Deputy Chief Justice Debra Lambert to serve in that role.
According to a news release, Lambert is a veteran of the Kentucky Supreme Court, having been elected as a justice in November 2018 from the 3rd Supreme Court District, which is made up of 25 counties. Justice Lambert came to the Supreme Court after four years on the Kentucky Court of Appeals.
Prior to taking the appellate bench, Justice Lambert was a Circuit Judge/Family Court division for the 28th Judicial Circuit, composed of Lincoln, Pulaski and Rockcastle counties. While a Family Court Judge, she created the first Drug Court in the area. She was recognized for her efforts in 2002 when the National Association of Drug Court Professionals inducted her into the Stanley M. Goldstein Drug Court Hall of Fame.
Chief Justice-Elect Lambert says, “I am both humbled and honored to have been elected by my colleagues to serve as the chief justice for the next four years. I know it is certainly no small task to lead the Judicial Branch of government. Our judges, clerks and administrative employees handle large dockets and special programs with great efficiency. While it may be notable that I will be the first woman to serve as chief justice in Kentucky, I am most proud to be a small-town kid from the mountains of Eastern Kentucky who has had a lot of support and encouragement along the way.”