Court Opinion

ID: 9678975
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 06:37:31.736458+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:17:09.264545
License: Public Domain

SCOTT, J.,
concurring in result only.
Because I believe the Pulaski Circuit Court exceeded its jurisdiction in this instance by issuing a statewide injunction against the Kentucky Department of Corrections, I can only concur with the majority in result only.
As was clearly noted by the Commonwealth in its Petition for Writ:
The request for the injunction was made by Eddy Montgomery in his official capacity as the duly elected Commonwealth’s Attorney for the 28th Judicial Circuit comprising Lincoln, Rockcastle and Pulaski County. He was acting pursuant to KRS 15.725 and KRS 69.010. KRS 15.725(1) specifically states that:
The Commonwealth’s attorney shall attend each Circuit Court held in his judicial circuit. He shall, except as provided in KRS 15.715 and KRS Chapter 131, have the duty to prosecute all violations whether by adults or by juveniles subject to the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court of the criminal and penal laws which are to be tried in the Circuit Court in his judicial circuit. In addition, he shall have the primary responsibility within his judicial circuit to present evidence to the grand jury concerning such violations.
KRS 69.010(1) specifically states that:
Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, the Commonwealth’s attorney shall, except in Franklin County, attend to all civil cases and proceedings in which the Commonwealth is interested in the Circuit Courts of his judicial circuit.
This limitation was recognized initially by the Pulaski Circuit Court in its Tempo*177rary Injunction Order of September 15, 2008, thus, its effect was limited to all prisoners from the 28th Judicial Circuit— Lincoln, Rockcastle and Pulaski Counties. The limitation was ignored, however, in its permanent injunction — which extended statewide.
I fear — by recognizing a statewide power of all the circuit courts in circumstances similar to this — we diminish the power of the Attorney General, dilute the jurisdiction of the Franklin Circuit Court, and encourage “circuit shopping” on issues such as this that are critical to the governance of Kentucky.
ENTERED: November 25, 2009.
/s/ John D. Minton Jr. Chief Justice