FRANKFORT, Ky. June 24, 2025 – The Supreme Court of Kentucky held a portrait dedication Friday for retired Deputy Chief Justice Lisabeth T. Hughes, marking the court’s final public event in the Capitol before moving to a temporary location during renovations.
The ceremony took place in the Supreme Court Courtroom on the Capitol’s second floor, where Justice Hughes served throughout her time on the Supreme Court bench. Chief Justice of the Commonwealth Debra Hembree Lambert noted the significance of holding the event in that historic space before the court relocates to 669 Chamberlin Ave.
Chief Justice Lambert described Justice Hughes as “a prominent and very grounding member of this court for more than 15 years,” and reflected on their time serving together. “I was very, very fortunate to be able to serve with her about four years altogether.”
While Justice Hughes’ intellect was well known, it was her personal warmth that stood out most, the chief justice said.
“She has that reputation of being brilliant, so much so that I don’t even have to talk about that so much,” Chief Justice Lambert said. “What I want to talk about is her kindness, her grace and her Western Kentucky hospitality, because I think that is what is so meaningful to those of us who developed a friendship with her as well.”
She continued with a personal anecdote.
“I’m convinced if I showed up unannounced on her doorstep she would offer me sweet tea and maybe some homemade pimento cheese sandwiches, and we would have a great conversation,” Chief Justice Lambert said. “Not that she can’t be tough ... but that kindness and sweetness coupled with brilliance is just a wonderful personality.”
Chief Justice John D. Minton Jr. (ret.), who appointed Justice Hughes as deputy chief justice, opened the ceremony. He addressed a courtroom filled with friends and former colleagues, many of whom served alongside Justice Hughes.
“The presence here this afternoon of so many former colleagues is a sign of our continued devotion to the work of this court and of our esteem for Justice Hughes,” he said. “We look forward to the day when Justice Hughes’ portrait hangs among those of our predecessors — and we all hope to live long enough to see that day,” he added, referencing the Capitol’s upcoming closure for a multiyear renovation. Portraits of retired justices have traditionally hung in a hall on the Capitol’s second floor.
Justice Hughes thanked the audience and reflected on her early impressions of the Capitol, describing how deeply the building resonated with her from her first visit.
“I first walked into the beautiful building in the early 1980s,” she said. “I had been in the U.S. Capitol. I had been in public buildings in London, Edinburgh ... but when I walked into this building it just really, really resonated with me. I thought it was just such a beautiful place. I never in a million years dreamed that one day I would work here, but I did.”
Justice Hughes retired in January 2023. A native of Princeton, she represented the 4th Supreme Court District, which is made up of Jefferson County. She was appointed to the court in 2007 and elected in 2008 and 2014. She previously served three years on the Kentucky Court of Appeals and nearly eight years as a Jefferson Circuit Court judge.
In her remarks, Justice Hughes said she considered speaking about the rule of law or quoting a prominent Kentucky jurist but chose a more personal reflection.
“What I’m going to quote today ... is actually on a coffee mug in all three of my sons’ kitchens,” she said. “The days are long, but the years are short. And that is the truth. The days are long when you serve on the Supreme Court. It is hard work. It is a true challenge. It is rewarding, but it is hard. And those days are long days.
“But when you look back, the years are so short. They just flew by.”
Attorney Virginia Snell Brown also spoke at the ceremony. She thanked the donors who made the portrait possible and reflected on the justice’s impact on the court and the commonwealth.
“This portrait will provide a lasting tribute to Justice Hughes,” Brown said.
She said, “Justice Hughes ... consistently rendered justice fairly with insight, humanity and grace.”
Painted by Grace Mehan DeVito of Connecticut, the portrait shows Justice Hughes on the balcony of the State Reception Room overlooking Capital Avenue. It will hang in the Supreme Court’s temporary home.
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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