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Debra Hembree Lambert Chief Justice
Chief Justice, Kentucky Supreme Court · 3rd District
Background: Lambert began her legal career practicing law in Mount Vernon, Kentucky, while also serving as an assistant commonwealth’s attorney and as city attorney for the city of Mount Vernon. In 1999, Gov. Paul E. Patton (D) appointed her as a family court judge for the 28th Circuit Court.
At a glance
- Court
- Kentucky Supreme Court
- Position / seat
- 3rd District
- Chief justice
- Yes
- How they joined the court
- Elected
- Appointed by
- Not applicable (elected)
- Appointment date
- Not applicable (elected)
- Took office
- January 7, 2019
- Current term ends
- January 4, 2027
- Next election or retention vote
- November 3, 2026 (general election)
- Last election
- May 19, 2026
- Party (as listed by Ballotpedia)
- Nonpartisan
- Ballotpedia partisanship estimate
- Mild Republican (2020 study of justices' pre-court partisan activity)
- Education
- Bachelor's: Eastern Kentucky University, 1983
- Law: University of Kentucky College of Law, 1989
- Prior offices
- Kentucky Court of Appeals 3rd Division 1 (2015 - 2018)
- Profession
- Not listed
- How this court's justices are chosen
- Nonpartisan electionVoters elect the justices; no party label appears on the ballot.
Summary of facts listed on Debra Hembree Lambert’s Ballotpedia page (retrieved Oct 26, 2026) · Photo: Ballotpedia. “Not listed” means Ballotpedia didn’t list it in a form this site could read; check Ballotpedia for the latest.
No public decision data available for this court.