On Wednesday, March 11, 2026, Fayette County Commonwealth’s Attorney Kimberly Baird urged a Kentucky House impeachment committee to remove Judge Julie Muth Goodman from her position, citing concerns over Goodman’s impartiality and conduct on the bench.
In a letter addressed to Chairman Jason M. Nemes, Baird detailed instances where she believes Goodman demonstrated bias against the Commonwealth Attorney’s office, misinterpreted the law, and created a hostile environment for prosecutors and victims.
Baird, who was appointed by Governor Beshear in 2022, stated that while she recognizes the high bar for impeaching a sitting judge, Goodman’s actions warrant a thorough review. She argued that Goodman’s behavior undermines the justice process and erodes public confidence in the judiciary.
The letter highlights several specific cases where Goodman’s rulings were reversed by the Court of Appeals, including Commonwealth v. Cornell Thomas, where Goodman dismissed an indictment based on her own assessment of the defendant’s mental state, and Commonwealth v. Hendron, where the Court of Appeals reversed Goodman’s decision to grant a new trial. Baird also criticized Goodman’s handling of Commonwealth v. Domonick Jones, where she allegedly failed to correct an illegal sentence of probation despite being informed of the error.
Baird further accused Goodman of making derogatory comments towards her office, accusing prosecutors of overcharging defendants and engaging in selective prosecution. She cited an instance where Goodman allegedly blamed a domestic violence victim for staying in an abusive relationship.
To support her claims, Baird included transcripts of interactions between Goodman and her office, as well as statistics on the outcomes of motions to suppress in Goodman’s court compared to other judges in the circuit. These statistics allegedly show a significantly higher rate of suppression success for defendants in Goodman’s court.
Baird concluded her letter by stating that Goodman’s actions have created a situation where her office must prepare victims for insensitive comments and adjust their litigation strategies to minimize the impact of Goodman’s bias. She argued that Goodman’s behavior violates judicial canons requiring impartiality and urged the impeachment committee to take appropriate action.
