Kentucky judge facing impeachment calls attempt 'frivolous'

Taylor Six, Lexington Herald-Leader on Mar 2, 2026

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LEXINGTON, Ky. — A Central Kentucky circuit judge facing impeachment says the petition against her should be dismissed for several reasons, including that it would violate Kentucky’s separation of powers and the filing is incomplete.

Fayette Circuit Judge Julie Muth Goodman on Feb. 26 filed a 38-page response with Kentucky’s impeachment committee through her attorney, Robert McBride.

In January, a former Kentucky state representative filed a petition to impeach Goodman, citing her handling of six different cases in Lexington.

Several of Goodman’s rulings in recent years have drawn the attention of Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman, who helped overturn them at the appellate level.

Goodman has served as judge in Fayette County for 18 years.

In one case, Goodman dismissed the indictment of a Lexington man charged with murder after a fatal crash, and in another, she ordered a new trial for a father convicted of killing his son.

Killian Timoney — who represented House District 45 before being defeated in a GOP primary in 2024 and is seeking the seat again this year — argues in the petition that Goodman abused her judicial authority and undermined public confidence in the courts in a way that constitutes “misdemeanors in office.”

“Judge Goodman has abused her office to such an extent, and in so many cases, that she has undermined public confidence in the judicial process,” Timoney wrote. “These abuses constitute misdemeanors in office under Section 68 of the Kentucky Constitution, for which she should be impeached, removed from office and disqualified to hold any office of honor, trust or profit under this Commonwealth.”

Timoney argued that grounds for impeaching Goodman include “refusal to obey legal precedent, outrageous demonstrations of bias, disregard of the separation of powers and an egregious pattern of judicial activism.”

One of Goodman’s cases that Timoney cited was overturned in a scathing opinion issued in December by the Kentucky Court of Appeals.

But Goodman says Timoney is seeking to unconstitutionally interfere with the justice system, calling his petition “legally deficient and frivolous.”

“In Kentucky’s 234-year history, the House has never impeached a sitting judge based on a petition disagreeing with her judicial decisions,” Goodman wrote in her response. “Doing so would violate separation of powers principles and judicial independence.”

Goodman’s argues that Timoney’s petition is flawed, first by failing to include an affidavit that is required by law to submit a petition.

“Although his written statement makes allegations, it cannot be considered a valid petition for impeachment because it is neither sworn to, nor certified by, a notary public or other officer,” Goodman wrote.

As for the cases at hand, Goodman argues the petition recounts only the most lurid aspects of each, misstating laws and facts, and mischaracterizing Goodman’s rulings.

Five of the six cases Timoney referenced remain active in Goodman’s court.

Goodman asked the committee dismiss the petition.

“The committee should recognize the danger that frivolous petitions pose to our system of justice and the constitutional structure of our government,” Goodman wrote.

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