Photo caption
Chief Justice Debra Hembree Lambert (right) takes the oath of office from her predecessor, Chief Justice Laurance B. VanMeter, at her investiture today in the Supreme Court Courtroom at the Capitol. Her son, John Lambert, holds the Bible. She is joined by stepdaughters (left to right) Chelsea Woolums and Jessica Guffey, who hold her judicial robe, and husband Joe Sharpe (center) and daughter-in-law Taylor Lambert (far right). (Photo by Mark Cornelison)
FRANKFORT, Ky., April 15, 2025 – Surrounded by family, friends and dignitaries, Chief Justice of the Commonwealth Debra Hembree Lambert was ceremonially sworn in today as the head of the Kentucky court system in the historic Supreme Court Courtroom at the Capitol. She recited the oath of office as her predecessor, Chief Justice Laurance B. VanMeter (ret.), swore her in. She is Kentucky’s seventh chief justice and first woman chief.
Watch a recording of the investiture later this week at ket.org/ky-supreme-court.
Chief Justice Lambert reflected in her remarks on her upbringing in a small Eastern Kentucky community, where her father owned a body shop and her mother was a nurse’s aide. She said her parents knew education was the key to success and that she was led by their philosophy to “work hard, be joyful and be fearless.”
“I shared with you a bit of who I am, and I wanted to bring that to you so you could see where my personal passion for people and justice developed,” she said. “When you grow up so modestly, you develop a strong sense of a need for a level playing field and for everyone to be heard. Those concepts are foundational in my worldview, and I hope you will be satisfied with my work performed as chief justice. You are my people, and following the rule of law does give me joy and makes me fearless about what lies ahead. I hope to serve you well. Thank you for your confidence in my humble service.”
In addition to being the first female chief justice, Chief Justice Lambert is leading the first female-majority Supreme Court.
“Being the first woman elected by my fellow justices as chief justice I suppose is notable, as we’ve all discussed today, and it’s especially nice to be a part of the first female majority court,” Chief Justice Lambert said during her remarks.
She said she’d “never given much thought to gender.”
“So I don’t think you can expect good or bad decisions that I might make as chief to be either clouded or enhanced by my double X chromosomes. They will simply be either good or bad decisions and carefully made, though.”
Chief Justice Lambert provided an update on court system progress, including the Supreme Court’s upcoming move from the Capitol for construction, a new case management system vendor for the trial courts and Judicial Branch budget discussions with the Kentucky General Assembly.
Speakers at the investiture included Gov. Andy Beshear, Senate President Robert Stivers, House Speaker David W. Osborne, Circuit Judge Gregory A. Lay (Knox and Laurel counties) and her fellow justices.
“I am honored to be here to recognize this historic moment for our commonwealth,” Gov. Beshear said. “The Kentucky Supreme Court holds a special responsibility of not just upholding the law but sometimes defining it, and to do so without bias or favor to any person or to any party. Unlike officials in the other branches of government, our Kentucky Supreme Court justices are elected through nonpartisan contests. Because of that, the job of a top court justice is to move our commonwealth not to the left or the right but forward for all of our citizens. As the highest legal authority in our state, the Kentucky Supreme Court ensures clarity, uniformity and fairness. Our high court justices and the many people who support their important work make up the backbone of our democracy – the rule of law. This is the foundation of a functional system of government, one that’s designed to serve the people and not merely the powerful. Today this crucial institution welcomes a new leader and makes some history.”
Stivers discussed the chief justice’s administrative responsibility as head of the court system and said he wished the new chief justice “wisdom, courage and Godspeed.”
Osborne said, “Chief Lambert’s remarkable career reflects a deep commitment to Kentucky values,” and “I look forward to the wisdom and the leadership that Chief Lambert will bring to our judiciary.”
Lay, a longtime friend and colleague of Chief Justice Lambert, said she was of good character and had integrity and independence. He made the motion for the Supreme Court to swear Chief Justice Lambert in.
“I do believe that you will be an effective justice of the Supreme Court,” he said. “I believe you will serve with authority – not the type of authority that is derived from a title but the type of authority that is earned, and I believe that you will do it with grace and with elegance,” he said, telling the audience that the chief justice is personally fun-loving and free-spirited with great taste in music.
Chief Justice Lambert’s fellow justices elected her for a four-year term as chief justice that started in January. (The investiture was postponed until April due to winter weather.) The chief justice is the administrative head of the Judicial Branch and is responsible for its operation.
Justice Shea Nickell said, “History will forever remember your ascendency from the dark hollers and deep coal mines of Eastern Kentucky to the high bench of Kentucky’s Supreme Court and now as the first female as that appellate tribunal’s chief justice. Your life has been a happy celebration of your rich Eastern Kentucky roots and through your impressive accomplishments, you have honored the many sacrifices and hardships of that region’s people. The proud region shaped you into the person you have become and enabled you to reach beyond the boundaries of those hills and hollers to share your gifts and blessings by seeking greater justice for all peoples of this great commonwealth.”
Chief Justice Lambert is an imposing, distinguished, knowledgeable and friendly colleague, Justice Nickell said.
“Given her broad skills, qualities and personal character, I was not surprised when she ascended to her new role as chief justice of our judicial tribunal,” he said.
Justice Angela McCormick Bisig said, “She’s been leading our court for the past four months. She brings a graciousness to our oral arguments. She has a great patience in the conference room for vibrant discussion and debate. I’m grateful to her today for service and leadership in our commonwealth and look forward to continuing to work together.”
Chief Justice Lambert
Chief Justice Lambert is the justice from the 25 counties of the 3rd Supreme Court District. She was elected as a justice in November 2018 and was the first chair of the Kentucky Judicial Commission on Mental Health, a groundbreaking commission that focuses on improving the judicial response to cases involving mental health, substance use and intellectual disabilities. Justice Lambert was the first woman from the 3rd Supreme Court District to serve on the Supreme Court and the first from the 3rd Appellate District (same counties as 3rd Supreme District) to serve on the Court of Appeals, where she was a judge for four years before being elected to the Supreme Court. She is also the first justice to have served as a Family Court judge.
Supreme Court of Kentucky
The Supreme Court is the state court of last resort and the final interpreter of Kentucky law. Seven justices sit on the Supreme Court and all seven justices rule on appeals that come before the court. The 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.
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Photo caption
Chief Justice Lambert looks at her remarks after taking the bench as chief justice of the commonwealth today in the Supreme Court Courtroom at the Capitol. She is the first woman chief justice in Kentucky and is leading the first female-majority court. (Photo by Mark Cornelison)