Bench & Bar March/April 2026

2026 ANNUAL CONVENTION OVERVIEW ON PAGE 6

members were elected to the Board of Governors for two-year term begin ning on July 1, 2026: 1 st District Jamas R. Coltharp, Jr., Paducah, 2 nd District Ryan C. Reed, Bowling Green, 3 rd Dis trict Hailey Scoville Bonham, London and 5 th District Erritt H. Griggs, Frank fort. Pursuant to Section 9 of the By laws, an election will be conducted in the following districts: 4 th District be tween Ronald E. Johnson and Eric M. Weihe; 6 th District between Jennifer L. Lawrence and Emily E. Walters and 7 th District R. Stephen McGinnis and James Tyler Ward. Mr. Meyers also re ported that J. Tanner Watkins will serve as President-Elect. Pursuant to Section 9 of the Bylaws, an election will be con ducted for the Office of Vice President between Amelia M. Adams and Susan Montalvo-Gesser. • Approved two (2) Disabled Inac tive Status requests pursuant to SCR 3.030(6)(a). • Approved an AI Policy for KBA volun teers and staff. • Approved purchasing new desk chairs for the KBA staff. • Mr. Meyers reported the KBA is now a member of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce which will provide net working opportunities with business leaders. • Mr. Meyers reported there are 20 peo ple registered to attend the CLE Abroad in Morocco, scheduled for May 17-25, 2026. • Mr. Meyers reported that Shannon Robinson will be starting in the CLE Department as CLE Compliance Co ordinator. • Approved the 2026 Staff Holiday Schedule consistent with the Adminis trative Office of the Courts. • Approved an Employee Anniversary Recognition Policy to recognize and celebrate the dedication and commit ment of the employees through ac knowledgement of key service anniver saries.

Moad of Louisville, from the Western District and J. Will Huber of Ft. Mitch ell from the Eastern District for respec tive four-year terms on the Joint Local Federal Rules Commission ending on December 31, 2029. • President McMurtry reported that KBA sections are not meeting report ing expectations and only about half submitted the required financial and activity reports last year. To address this the staff is drafting amendments to Bylaw Section 11 to clarify section re quirements. These changes will include mandatory annual reports, Board au thority to abolish inactive sections, a cap of $30,000 on each section’s reten tion, and a requirement that all travel expenses be paid from section budgets. Sections will also receive clearer dead lines, guidelines, and mandates moving forward. Section leaders will be invited to training at the 2026 Summer Meet ing to help strengthen section opera tions. In addition, the staff is consulting with other states to understand how they oversee their sections. The updat ed bylaw amendments will be present ed to the Board at the next meeting. • President McMurtry reported the 2026 Annual Convention will take place June 11 and 12, in Covington at the Northern Kentucky Convention Cen ter. Judge Julie Ward from Campbell County is serving as convention chair. The committee has held a few meetings and is working to line up speakers and finalize social events. • Mr. Meyers reported that the following

sentative. He encouraged Board mem bers to engage with YLD social media and submit accomplishments of young lawyers for the YLD Spotlight. YLD has resumed Wellness Wednesday posts and is updating its website, including adding a tab for Elevate and Leader ship Kentucky scholarship informa tion. He also noted the approval of the “Courtroom Compass” program for the annual convention, ongoing plans for the 10 th Annual Legal Food Frenzy in March 2026, and the development of financial literacy video series. YLD in tends to partner with the KBF through the “More Than a Lawyer” initiative and will launch an Honor A Mentor Challenge fundraiser. Additionally, YLD is planning a 5k run and 3k walk for the annual convention. • Approved issuing Show Cause Notic es for non-payment of dues, pursuant to SCR 3.050 and non-compliance for CLE, pursuant to SCR 3.675(2) and (3). • Approved the appointment of Bar Gov ernor Ryan C. Reed to the KBA Audit Committee, to serve a three-year term ending on December 31, 2028, as the Board representative, approved the re appointment of Kim Reeder for anoth er three-year term ending on Decem ber 31, 2028, and will follow up with an appointment recommendation for the financial professional position. • Approved the appointment of J. Ste phen Smith to the Bar Center Board of Trustees for a three-year term ending on December 31, 2028. • Approved the appointment of Jeffrey S.

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