KY specialty courts safe, but staff positions cut in ‘challenging times’ for justice system

By: Sarah Ladd

Outlets: Kentucky Lantern

Published: May 15, 2026

Words: 730

Last Updated: 2 months, 1 week ago

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Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice Debra Hembree Lambert is cutting 170 staff positions — and adding 108 — in the court system to operate within the boundaries of the budget passed by the General Assembly.

Drug, mental health and veteran courts, which were at risk of closure under an initial version of the budget, will not close.

Lambert told staff in a Friday morning letter that “we are making material changes to our organizational …

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