summary
Introduced
02/05/2026
02/05/2026
In Committee
02/12/2026
02/12/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Amend KRS 26A.020 to establish that any person may submit an affidavit to the Attorney General asserting that an assigned judge cannot impartially preside in a pending action; authorize the Attorney General to determine if the impartiality of the judge may reasonably be questioned; authorize the Attorney General to submit the affidavit to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court who shall determine whether to appoint a special judge.
AI Summary
This bill amends existing law to create a new process for requesting a special judge when a judge is believed to be unable to preside impartially in a pending civil case or appeal, particularly concerning constitutional challenges to statutes. Under this bill, any person can submit an affidavit to the Attorney General stating their belief that a judge cannot impartially decide a legal question or a constitutional challenge. The Attorney General will then review this affidavit to determine if it's made in good faith and presents a reasonable argument that the judge's impartiality could be questioned. If so, the Attorney General will forward the affidavit, with any identifying information about the requestor removed, to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The Chief Justice will then make the final decision on whether to appoint a special judge, who would have the same powers as a regular judge.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
to Judiciary (H) (on 02/12/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hb569.html |
| BillText | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/hb569/orig_bill.pdf |
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