Tagged: Franklin Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd

The Kentucky Supreme Court has ordered Kentucky child welfare officials to publicly release records of child abuse cases resulting in death or serious injury.

The court released the 3-3 vote Thursday on whether to halt a lower court decision ordering the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to open the cases. The tie vote let the lower court decision stand.

A Franklin Circuit Court judge has thrown out new legislative district maps, saying they violate the basic principles of the Kentucky Constitution.

Judge Phillip Shepherd’s ruling is based on the so-called “five percent rule.” It says new districts must be within five percent of their ideal size. Shepherd added that the maps of both the House and Senate districts divided too many counties.