Kentucky Court of Appeals Judge Pamela Goodwine becomes the first Black woman to be elected to the state’s Supreme Court on Tuesday.
Goodwine defeated attorney Erin Izzo in Kentucky’s 5th Supreme Court District, according to The Associated Press.
“Being elected to the Kentucky Supreme Court tonight gives me the honor of being the first woman and only the fifth person in history to serve at every level (of the judiciary),” Goodwine said in a speech Tuesday. “Our campaign stood firmly on experience, honesty and a commitment to impartiality and the rule of law to protect and serve every citizen.”
The Kentucky Supreme Court is officially nonpartisan, with justices elected without formal party affiliations. However, Goodwine’s victory is seen as a shift towards making the court in the traditional red state more democratic.
The state’s Democratic governor Andy Beshear actively supported Goodwine’s bid along with former Democratic governors Steve Beshear and Paul Patton, as well as Democratic state lawmakers.
Meanwhile, several Republican groups endorsed Izzo who campaigned as a staunch defender of gun rights and a constitutional conservative.
The Kentucky Judicial Campaign Conduct Committee reportedly raised concerns during the campaign about partisan endorsements potentially undermining public trust in the court’s impartiality, according to Newsweek.
Goodwine will fill the seat now held by Chief Justice Laurance VanMeter who did not seek reelection.
