Coleman Drops Appeal in Goodman Impeachment Case
Kentucky's attorney general asked to dismiss his appeal after the state Supreme Court refused to revisit its ruling voiding the impeachment of Judge Julie Muth Goodman.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Criminal Justice
Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman filed a motion last month asking to drop his appeal regarding the impeachment of Judge Julie Muth Goodman. The move follows a Kentucky Supreme Court ruling in September declining to withdraw its April 6 opinion that the legislature lacked authority to remove Goodman from the bench.
Why it matters
Coleman's motion cited overlapping issues between his appeal and one filed by legislators, and he disagreed with the court's decision barring lawmakers from removing Goodman. The outcome determines whether the General Assembly's impeachment power over judges survives in practice.
The record consists of a Supreme Court opinion dated April 6 and a September ruling declining reconsideration, with the attorney general's dismissal motion pending. Whether the legislature can revive impeachment proceedings against Goodman remains unresolved.
The players
Russell Coleman
Kentucky's attorney general, who filed the motion to dismiss his appeal after disagreeing with the court's decision barring lawmakers from removing Goodman.
Julie Muth Goodman
A Kentucky judge whose impeachment by the General Assembly was voided by the state Supreme Court.
David Osborne
Kentucky House Speaker who joined State Rep. Jason Nemes in asking the Supreme Court to rehear the impeachment case.
Jason Nemes
Kentucky state representative who joined House Speaker David Osborne in requesting the Supreme Court rehear the impeachment case.
Phillip Shepherd
Franklin Circuit Court judge who nullified the formal articles of impeachment against Goodman.
The details
Coleman asked to dismiss his own appeal, while House Speaker David Osborne and State Rep. Jason Nemes requested on April 27 that the Supreme Court rehear the case, arguing the justices incorrectly limited the General Assembly's impeachment power. Franklin Circuit Court Judge Phillip Shepherd separately found the impeachment petition failed to identify key facts, witnesses, dates and legal violations.
Timeline
April 6: Kentucky Supreme Court voided Goodman's impeachment.
April 27: Nemes and Osborne requested that the Supreme Court rehear the case.
September: The Supreme Court declined to withdraw its April 6 opinion.
Sept. 29: Shepherd denied Goodman's request that Timoney pay her attorney's fees.
October 2026: Coleman filed a motion to drop his appeal.
Legal Context
The dispute tests how far the Kentucky General Assembly's impeachment authority extends over sitting judges, a question the April 6 Supreme Court opinion settled against the legislature. Whether an interim committee revives the process in coming months will show whether that ruling holds.
Kentuckians depend on the state's courts operating within clear constitutional limits, and this dispute determines whether judges can be removed by lawmakers over disputed conduct. Residents following judicial accountability in the state should watch whether the legislature or the conduct commission acts next.
The takeaway
Judicial removal in Kentucky now turns on whether lawmakers can meet the notice and specificity standards Judge Shepherd described. Readers should track both the legislative interim process and any Judicial Conduct Commission action.
What happens next
An interim committee could pick the impeachment back up in the coming months, and the Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission could decide to take action against Goodman.
Further reading
Explore more Criminal Justice coverage in Kentucky.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Lexington Herald Leader.
