KACDL Official Statement:

WHITNEY WESTERFIELD, IN HIS 2018-SC-000583-TG FRANKLIN  OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS SENATOR, 2018-SC-000585-TG  ET AL. V.   DAVID M. WARD, ET AL.  AND  DAVID M. WARD, ET AL. V.  WHITNEY WESTERFIELD, IN HIS  OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS SENATOR,  ET AL.  OPINION OF THE COURT BY  CHIEF JUSTICE MINTON –   AFFIRMING  ALL SITTING. ALL CONCUR. TO BE PUBLISHED 

 

We are pleased with the Kentucky Supreme Court’s unanimous decision confirming that the language of the Kentucky Constitution has meaning and must be complied with when anyone seeks to change our foundational law.  Our position has been clear throughout this process.  We told the legislature through our testimony even prior to passage, that the question crafted and submitted to voters failed entirely to tell our citizens the fundamental changes to our justice system that would result from this amendment.  KACDL is a nonprofit member association that believes that continued recognition and adherence to the Bills of Rights contained in the Constitutions of the United States and of the Commonwealth of Kentucky by the Judicial, Legislative and Executive branches of government are necessary to sustain the quality of the American system of justice.  KACDL will continue to stand against any attempts to side step the process.

 

The Court’s decision makes clear that Kentuckians must be fully informed before our Constitution can be changed. Today, every Kentuckian is more secure in their liberty because of this decision. Any Kentuckian interested in our view of SB3 and the definite ramifications it will have on our justice system, may find all prior press releases and media participation on our website at www.kacdl.net under the “News” section on our home page.

 




2019 President:

B. Scott West is the Deputy Public Advocate for the Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy in Frankfort, Kentucky; prior to that, Scott was the General Counsel for the agency from 2011 through October 2017.  He has been the Bluegrass Regional Manager in the Richmond Field Office, Directing Attorney for the Murray Field Office, and a staff attorney in the Hazard Field Office.  For the last 10 years, he has taught search and seizure law, as well as Miranda law, in DPA’s Public Defender College.  He is the recipient of the 2017 Kentucky Bar Association’s Thomas B. Spain CLE Award, the 2015 KBA Bruce K. Davis Bar Service Award, the 2014 Kentucky Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Frank E. Haddad, Jr. Award, and 2011 DPA Gideon Award, 2011.  He is a member of the KBA Ethics Committee. You may reach him at president@kacdl.net