Lambert elected chief justice of Kentucky Supreme Court

Justices of the Kentucky Supreme Court elected Deputy Chief Justice Debra Hembree Lambert their next chief justice of the court on Monday. Justice Lambert is the first woman to be elected to this position. She begins her four-year term on January 6, 2025.

“I am both humbled and honored to have been elected by my colleagues to serve as the chief justice for the next four years,” Lambert said in a press release published by the Kentucky Administrative Office of the Courts. “I know it is certainly no small task to lead the Judicial Branch of government. Our judges, clerks and administrative employees handle large dockets and special programs with great efficiency. While it may be notable that I will be the first woman to serve as chief justice in Kentucky, I am most proud to be a small-town kid from the mountains of eastern Kentucky who has had a lot of support and encouragement along the way.”  

Justice Lambert succeeds Chief Justice Laurance B. VanMeter, who described Justice Lambert as a “hard-working, dedicated, and experienced member of the Kentucky Court of Justice.”

“I am confident that Chief Justice-elect Lambert will lead the Judicial Branch with integrity and ensure the efficient and fair administration of justice for this great commonwealth,” he said in a press release.

Last year, Chief Justice VanMeter announced he would not be seeking reelection in the 5th Supreme Court district.

Chief Justice-elect Lambert was elected to the Supreme Court in November 2018, where she represented the state’s third district, which is made up of 25 counties. She previously served as an appellate court judge, a Circuit Judge/Family Court for the 28^th District (Lincoln, Pulaski and Rockcastle counties). She was appointed to the bench by Governor Paul E. Patton in 1999.

Prior to 17 years of a service as a judge/justice, Justice Lambert practiced law in Mount Vernon, serving as an assistant commonwealth’s attorney and city attorney for the city of Mount Vernon. In 2007, Justice Lambert resumed her private practice of law in Mount Vernon until her election to the Court of Appeals in 2014.

Justice Lambert currently heads the Kentucky Judicial Commission on Mental Health. The commission works to address various issues Kentuckians with mental health needs, substance use disorder, and intellectual and behavioral issues face. As a family court judge, she established the first drug court in the area. The National Association of Drug Court Professionals recognized her efforts in 2002, inducting her into the Stanley M. Goldstein Drug Court Hall of Fame.

A native of Bell County, Justice Lambert earned a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Kentucky University, where she graduated with distinction. She went on to graduate from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 1989.

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