KY HB569

Amends KRS 26A.020 to create a new pathway for challenging judicial impartiality in civil cases involving questions of law or constitutional challenges to statutes

Allows any person to submit an affidavit to the Attorney General alleging a judge will not impartially decide a legal question or constitutional challenge in a pending civil case or appeal

Requires the Attorney General to evaluate whether the affidavit is made in good faith and presents a prima facie argument that the judge's impartiality might reasonably be questioned

If the Attorney General approves the affidavit, they must redact the requestor's identifying information before submitting it to the Chief Justice, who then decides whether to designate a special judge

Special judges designated under this process have full powers and responsibilities of a regular judge, with retired justices or judges compensated under KRS 21A.110