If the livestream is not working, please try this link – https://ket.org/live/ky-supreme-court/.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
FRANKFORT, Ky., Oct. 2, 2025 – In an effort to educate more people, including law students, about the courts, the Supreme Court of Kentucky will hear its October oral arguments outside its traditional setting in Frankfort at the University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law in Lexington. The justices will hear cases Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 15-16, in the G. Chad Perry III Grand Courtroom. Proceedings are open to the public and will take place at 10 and 11 a.m. EDT each day.
The public may observe in person or via livestream. Stream arguments as they happen or later as archives at ket.org/supremecourt.
The justices normally hear arguments in the historic Supreme Court Courtroom at the Capitol. The Lexington session is part of a public education program started in 1985 when the court traveled to Louisville to hear oral arguments – the first time a state Supreme Court session was held outside Frankfort. Since that time, sessions have been held in locations across the state. Holding oral arguments in communities is an opportunity to educate the public on the work of the Supreme Court and the Judicial Branch. Civic outreach can improve understanding of the role of courts in society. Additionally, when the Capitol closed this year for a multiyear renovation, an opportunity opened for the Supreme Court to hear arguments in other locations. See the court’s oral argument schedules at https://kcoj.info/SupremeCourt.
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.
Oral Arguments
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 15, 2025
10 a.m.
MINOVA USA, INC. V. TOM JOLLY (2024-SC-0169-DG)
Access links to case briefs at https://kcoj.info/SCOct2025.
Workers’ Compensation. Up-the-Ladder Employer. Contractor. Immunity. KRS 342.610(2). Issues presented include whether a company is a “contractor” pursuant to KRS 342.610(2) and an immune “employer” pursuant to KRS 342.690(1); if so, is the employer is immune from recovery outside the Workers’ Compensation Act.
Discretionary Review Granted: August 14, 2024
Trial Court(s): Scott Circuit Court
Presiding Judge(s): Hon. Kathryn Gabhart
Counsel for Appellant, Minova USA, Inc.: Robert E. Stopher, Robert D. Bobrow, Boehl Stopher & Graves, LLP
Counsel for Appellee, Tom Jolly: James J. Varellas, Sandra M. Varellas, D. Todd Varellas, Varellas & Varellas PLLC; Kevin C. Burke, Jamie K. Neal, Burke Neal PLLC
11 a.m.
TYRONE ANTOINNE HARTSFIELD V. COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY (2024-SC-0044-DG)
Access links to case briefs at https://kcoj.info/SCOct2025.
Criminal Law. Evidence. Admissibility. Police Body Camera Footage. Issues presented include whether body camera footage from a police officer who responded to the scene of an alleged rape and strangulation is admissible at trial when the footage shows the officer telling a colleague that he did not believe the victim’s story.
Discretionary Review Granted: June 5, 2024
Trial Court(s): Fayette Circuit Court
Presiding Judge(s): Hon. Julie M. Goodman
Counsel for Appellant, Tyrone Antoinne Hartsfield: Emily Rhorer, Kathleen Schmidt, Department of Public Advocacy
Counsel for Appellee, Commonwealth of Kentucky: Melissa Pile, Office of the Attorney General
THURSDAY, OCT. 16, 2025
10 a.m.
JONATHAN SHELL, IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, ET AL. V. ANDY BESHEAR, IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS GOVERNOR, ET AL. (2024-SC-0254-DG)
AND
ANDY BESHEAR, IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS GOVERNOR, ET AL. V. JONATHAN SHELL, IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, ET AL. (2024-SC-0256-DG)
Access links to case briefs at https://kcoj.info/SCOct2025.
State Constitutional Law. Executive Branch. Governor. Commissioner of Agriculture. Ky. Const. §§ 27, 28, 69, and 81. Separation of Powers. State Fair Board. Appointment Power. Removal Power. Supreme Executive. Issues presented include: (1) whether the Governor’s role as “supreme executive who must take care that the laws are faithfully executed” requires that he have appointive power for the majority of the State Fair Board members and removal for cause power over all members; or (2) whether the General Assembly has the prerogative to withhold executive powers from the Governor by assigning them to the Commissioner of Agriculture.
Discretionary Review Granted: February 13, 2025
Trial Court(s): Jefferson Circuit Court
Presiding Judge(s): Hon. Mary M. Shaw
Counsel for Appellant/Cross-Appellee, Jonathan Shell, in his Official Capacity as Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture: Heather Becker, Kentucky Department of Agriculture
Counsel for Appellant/Cross-Appellee, Commonwealth of Kentucky, ex rel. Attorney General Russell Coleman: Matthew F. Kuhn, John H. Heyburn, Jacob M. Abrahamson, Office of the Kentucky Attorney General
Counsel for Appellant/Cross-Appellee, Dr. Mark Lynn, in his Official Capacity as Chairman of the State Fair Board: Ellen Benzing, Kentucky State Fair Board
Counsel for Appellant/Cross-Appellee, David W. Osborne, in his Official Capacity as a Member of the State Fair Board and Speaker of the Kentucky House Of Representatives: D. Eric Lycan, Office of the Speaker of the House
Counsel for Appellant/Cross-Appellee, Bertram R. Stivers, II, in his Official Capacity as a Member of the State Fair Board and President of the Kentucky State Senate: David Fleenor, R. Vaughn Murphy, Jean Bird, Office of the Senate President
Counsel for Appellee/Cross-Appellant, Andy Beshear, in his Official Capacity as Governor: Mitchel T. Denham, McBrayer, PLLC; S. Travis Mayo, Office of the Governor
Counsel for Appellee/Cross-Appellant, Secretary Lindy Casebier, in his Official Capacities as Secretary of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet, and as a Member of The State Fair Board: Mitchel T. Denham, McBrayer, PLLC; Sarah Grider Cronan, Kentucky Tourism, Arts & Heritage Cabinet
11 a.m.
ANDY BESHEAR, IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS GOVERNOR OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY, ET AL. V. RUSSELL COLEMAN, IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY, ET AL. (2024-SC-0228-DG)
Access links to case briefs at https://kcoj.info/SCOct2025.
State Constitutional Law. Executive Branch. Governor. Ky. Const. §§ 27, 28, 69, and 81. Separation of Powers. Executive Branch Ethics Commission. Appointment Power. Removal Power. Supreme Executive. Issues include: (1) whether the Governor’s role as the “supreme executive who must take care that the laws are faithfully executed” requires that he have appointive power for the majority of the Executive Branch Ethics Commission members and removal for cause power over all members; or (2) whether the General Assembly has the prerogative to withhold executive powers from the Governor by assigning them to the constitutional officers who are not amenable to his supervision and control.
Discretionary Review Granted: February 13, 2025
Trial Court(s): Jefferson Circuit Court
Presiding Judge(s): Hon. A.C. McKay Chauvin
Counsel for Appellant, Governor Andy Beshear; in His Official Capacity as Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: Mitchel T. Denham, McBrayer, PLLC, S. Travis Mayo, Taylor Payne, Laura C. Tipton, Office of the Governor
Counsel for Appellant, David Karem, in his Official Capacity as a Member of the Executive Ethics Commission: Mitchel T. Denham, McBrayer, PLLC
Counsel for Appellee, Russell Coleman, in his Official Capacity as Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: Matthew F. Kuhn, John H. Heyburn, Jacob M. Abrahamson, Office of the Kentucky Attorney General
Counsel for Appellee, Michael Adams, in his Official Capacity as Kentucky Secretary Of State: Jennifer Scutchfield, Michael R Wilson, Office of Secretary of State
Counsel for Appellee, Allison Ball, in her Official Capacity as State Auditor of Public Accounts: Alexander Y. Magera, Savannah G. Baker, Jeremy J. Sylvester, Office of the Kentucky Auditor of Public Accounts
Counsel for Appellee, Mark Metcalf, in his Official Capacity as Kentucky State Treasurer: Sam P. Burchett Robert L. Gullette, III, Office of the State Treasurer
Counsel for Appellee, Jonathan Shell, in his Official Capacity as Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture: Heather Becker, Kentucky Department of Agriculture
Counsel for Appellee, Executive Branch Ethics Commission: Susan Stokley Clary, Executive Director
###