Kentucky Senate suspends impeachment hearings against Lexington judge

Senate leadership hopes the Judicial Conduct Commission will act instead of the legislature.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 1:03am

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A serene, cinematic painting of an empty courtroom with a single chair at the judge's bench, bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conveying a sense of contemplative solemnity.The Kentucky Senate's decision to suspend impeachment proceedings against a Lexington judge highlights the complex relationship between the legislative and judicial branches.Lexington Today

The Kentucky Senate has suspended upcoming impeachment hearings against Fayette Circuit Judge Julie Muth Goodman, who was impeached by the state House in March. Senate President Robert Stivers said the Senate is delaying the proceedings to see if the Judicial Conduct Commission will take steps to sanction Goodman, whose conduct was ruled by the state Supreme Court as not impeachable.

Why it matters

The decision to suspend the impeachment hearings highlights the complex relationship between the legislative and judicial branches in Kentucky, as well as the role of the Judicial Conduct Commission in overseeing judicial misconduct. It also raises questions about the appropriate process for addressing allegations of judicial impropriety.

The details

The Kentucky Senate was set to begin impeachment hearings against Goodman on Thursday, following her impeachment by the House in a 73-14 vote. However, the state Supreme Court ruled the impeachment effort was invalid and should not proceed, arguing that Goodman's conduct was not impeachable and that the Judicial Conduct Commission was the proper forum to consider judicial sanctions. Senate leadership has now introduced a resolution to suspend the impeachment proceedings, saying they want to see if the Conduct Commission will take action against Goodman before the Senate potentially revisits the case.

  • The Kentucky House impeached Goodman on March 20, 2026.
  • The Kentucky Supreme Court ruled the impeachment effort was invalid on April 6, 2026.
  • The Kentucky Senate suspended the impeachment hearings on April 15, 2026.

The players

Robert Stivers

The Kentucky Senate President, who announced the decision to suspend the impeachment hearings against Judge Goodman.

Julie Muth Goodman

A Fayette Circuit Judge in Lexington, Kentucky, who was impeached by the state House but had the impeachment effort ruled invalid by the state Supreme Court.

Killian Timoney

A former Kentucky lawmaker who filed the impeachment petition against Judge Goodman, claiming she had abused her office and ignored the law.

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What they’re saying

“We have statistics that (the commission) very rarely act(s) on complaints”

— Robert Stivers, Kentucky Senate President

“There will have to be a certain set of conditions that take place before we could have a trial, but it can take place”

— Robert Stivers, Kentucky Senate President

What’s next

The Kentucky Senate's impeachment committee will meet on Wednesday, April 16, 2026 to discuss the next steps in the case against Judge Goodman.

The takeaway

This case highlights the complex balance of power between the legislative and judicial branches in Kentucky, as well as the role of oversight bodies like the Judicial Conduct Commission in addressing allegations of judicial misconduct. The suspension of the impeachment proceedings raises questions about the appropriate process for holding judges accountable and the potential need for reforms to strengthen the state's system of judicial oversight.