Bench & Bar November/December 2025

BAR NEWS

BOARD OF GOVERNORS MEETING JULY 25, 2025 IN REGULAR SESSION, THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS CONDUCTED THE FOLLOWING BUSINESS:

The Board of Governors met on Friday, July 25, 2025. Officers and Bar Gover nors in attendance were, President T. McMurtry, President-Elect M. Cook, Vice President J. Watkins, Immediate Past President R. Blackburn, Young Lawyers Division Chair K. Bunnell and Young Lawyers Division Chair-Elect C. Stanley. Bar Governors 1 st District – J. Sigler, M. Tierney; 2 nd District – R. Reed, S. McGehee-Shacklette; 3 rd Dis trict D. Benge, S. Knight; 4 th District - S. Hiestand; 5 th District – A. Adams, 6 th District J. Gatherwright, C. Stavros, and 7 th District – W. Hall. Bar Governors absent were: M. Click, L. Mayo and S. Phillips. In the Executive Session, the Board of Governors considered one (1) dis ciplinary default case and one (1) restoration case. Dr. Michael Knight of Madisonville and Steven Ray of Madi sonville, non-lawyer members serving on the Board pursuant to SCR 3.375 participated in the deliberations. KBA MEMBERS Do you have a matter to discuss with the KBA’s Board of Governors? The next Board meetings are scheduled on

• Director of Accounting/Membership Michele Pogrotsky provided an over view of the association’s membership breakdown, as well as the financial report going over the income and expense line items for the budget. She also reported the final in-person attendance for the 2025 Annual Con vention totaled 1,108 with 739 regis tering for the on-demand content. • Immediate Past President Rhonda J. Blackburn provided an update on the status of the proposed rule amend ments that were submitted to the Supreme Court from the Task Force on Disciplinary Process following an audit by the American Bar Associa tion. • Young Lawyer Division Chair Kyle R. Bunnell requested approval of proposed amendments to the YLD bylaws regarding the diversity ini tiative to remain compliant with the Federal Executive Orders. The Board approved the proposed amendments. • President Todd V. McMurtry report ed that for each goal initiative in the Long Range Strategic Plan there will be a Board member facilitator with additional Board members volun teering to help on one of the goal subcommittees: Goal 1 - Maintain and encourage the highest levels of ethical conduct, Goal 2 – Foster KBA members’ professional excellence and satisfaction, Goal 3 – Improve

access to legal information and ser vices for residents throughout Ken tucky, Goal 4 – Build the KBA’s or ganizational capacity to effectively carry out its mission. • President McMurtry reported that he is encouraging all Board mem bers to familiarize themselves with AI over the next year. Past President W. Fletcher McMurry Schrock start ed the KBA’s AI Task Force and the people serving on this task force are committed to how it is going to im pact the legal profession. The Task Force is also promoting a series of four “free CLE” AI webinars begin ning January 2026. • President McMurtry reported that during Ms. Blackburn’s term as pres ident a letter was sent to all the sec tion chairs asking them to submit a report outlining how the funds for that section are being utilized. He noted several sections did not meet during the FY 2024-25 and that their funding had not been utilized. There have been some staff changes in an effort to reach out to the sections about their plans and to improve their communication as well as help with scheduling activities and pro grams. The goal is for all sections to be up and running efficiently, spend ing their allotted funds for regular programing, and begin meeting on a regular basis.

JANUARY 16, 2026 MARCH 20, 2026

To schedule a time on the Board’s agenda at one of these meetings, please contact John Meyers or Melissa Blackwell at (502) 564-3795.

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