For the first time in its history, the Kentucky Supreme Court will not hear oral arguments this week from their chambers at the Capitol, but instead through a teleconference.
The court is hearing oral arguments remotely as the seven justices will not be meeting in person to observe social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic. Instead they will be participating from their home district.
There is just one case on the docket, involving the appeal of a family court case from Oldham County.
The issues to be heard by the high court relate to the use of an assigned “friend of the court” to obtain information and the extent to which they may testify. Specifically, the justices will consider whether persons so designated may qualify as experts to provide opinion testimony and/or may testify as to hearsay or provide written reports containing hearsay.
Those who act as friends of the court are attorneys licensed by the state of Kentucky and are appointed by the judge hearing the case, to serve as investigators when there are disputed child custody matters to be addressed.
The public may watch video of the oral arguments via a livestream on the KET website. Proceedings are also available to watch later.
This will be the first oral arguments heard since February as the court cancelled the proceedings in March, although they did hold a teleconference by phone to discuss other court business and handed down decisions the following week.
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Written by Tom Latek. Cross-posted from Kentucky Today.