Judge James Brantley Denies Injunction on Smoking Ban

By Casey Northcutt

Madisonville, KY – The Madisonville smoking ban remains in effect for the moment. Circuit Court Judge James Brantley presided over a hearing this afternoon regarding a temporary injunction filed by businessman Thomas Richards and James Haulk. The men protested a ban enacted by the Hopkins County Board of Health prohibiting smoking in public areas. They said the organization had no right to impose such restrictions on the county. Brantley says he denied the injunction because Richardson and Haulk failed to prove the ban would violate their rights or invoke immediate and irreparable harm upon their businesses. Both parties plan to submit further evidence for a more permanent ruling.