Opinion ID: 2278910
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Chief Judge Combs's Response is Proper for Our Consideration

Text: Collins seeks to have Chief Judge Combs's response stricken. He first argues that Respondent erroneously characterizes his claim as a writ of prohibition when, in fact, it is an original proceeding. However, as outlined above, under these circumstances, a writ is an appropriate original action in this Court; thus, the two characterizations are not inconsistent. Moreover, CR 76.36 explicitly permits the filing of a response to any petition for relief that is filed as an original action in an appellate court. He next argues that this Court may not take judicial notice of the facts referenced in the response. However, the response simply cites to the Court of Appeals' own prior opinions, one federal court opinion, as well as to a recusal order, all of which are public records and appropriate subjects of judicial notice. KRE 201, enacted in 1990 provides in pertinent part: (a) Scope of rule. This rule governs only judicial notice of adjudicative facts. (b) Kinds of facts. A judicially noticed fact must be one not subject to reasonable dispute in that it is . . . (2) Capable of accurate and ready determination by resort to sources whose accuracy cannot reasonably be questioned. The rule also provides that a court may take judicial notice sua sponte, at any time during the proceedings. KRE 201(c) and (f). We recognize that earlier decisional law limited judicial notice of court records to those in the same court, involving the same parties and issues, or records in the current proceeding. See, e.g., Maynard v. Allen, 276 Ky. 485, 124 S.W.2d 765 (1939); Jones v. Bell, 304 Ky. 827, 202 S.W.2d 641 (1947). However, KRE 201 expands the prior rule. For example, in Doe v. Golden & Walters, PLLC, 173 S.W.3d 260 (Ky.App.2005), the Kentucky Court of Appeals took judicial notice of an opinion rendered by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, involving the same parties and subject matter. The Court of Appeals stated, [although not yet final, the fact of the Sixth Circuit's opinion in Doe v. LFUCG [, 407 F.3d 755 (6th Cir.2005)] and its contents cannot reasonably be questioned. Moreover, this information is capable of ready determination as the opinion is available from the Sixth Circuit, the Federal Reporter, and Westlaw. Id. at 265-66 (footnotes omitted). Likewise, the opinions referenced in this matter are readily available from the Kentucky Court of Appeals or the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky and on Westlaw. Additionally, the recusal order referenced in this matter was entered in one of Collins's previous appeals in the Court of Appeals. Thus, these opinions and order, and their contents, are appropriate for this Court to judicially notice. Thomas v. Judicial Conduct Commission, 77 S.W.3d 578 (Ky.2002), is also instructive. In Thomas, this Court approved of the Judicial Conduct Commission's decision to take judicial notice of its own prior rulings concerning Thomas's disciplinary history in evaluating the appropriate sanction for the new charges against Thomas. As we have determined that the Court of Appeals Order concerning Collins is merely an extension of his previous, numerous appeals, Thomas lends support for this Court to judicially notice the referenced opinions and order. Finally, Collins asserts that Chief Judge Combs's response should be stricken because it is signed by Ann Swain, the chief staff attorney for the Court of Appeals. Collins is correct that SCR 1.030(5) prohibits officers and employees of the Court of Appeals from practicing law. However, Collins misconstrues the role of officers and employees. As the Order being challenged was an order entered by Chief Judge Combs in her official capacity and on behalf of the Kentucky Court of Appeals, defending the Order is an appropriate function of an officer or employee of the Court of Appeals. Thus, Collins's contention is without merit.