Bench & Bar September/October 2026

KYLAP

KYLAP BIDS FAREWELL TO ASA PIERATT “ PETE ” GULLETT , III

W e take this moment to pause and acknowledge the legacy of Asa P. “Pete” Gullett, III, who passed on August 9, 2026, after a brief illness. 1 This story begins with a brief history of KYLAP, an entity Pete helped will into existence in 2004, and one which he continued to nurture and steward for over 20 years. We begin with the practi cal process of effectuating the program but conclude with the more personal impact of his contributions. Please indulge us in this endeavor. We feel as though we have lost our North Star. We would be remiss not to share with you and honor the critical role Pete Gullett played in this organization whose sole mission is to help law students, lawyers and judges be, do, and practice better. into a broad-brush, confidential program addressing all mental health issues or impairments affecting Kentucky’s legal community. In 1982, the KBA formed an Alcohol and Drug Abuse Committee (later renamed the Impaired Attorneys Commit tee, and then Lawyers Helping Lawyers Committee). For years, volunteers had provided assistance without a budget or support. During his term on the KBA Board Pete’s legacy is inter twined with KYLAP’s evolution: from grass roots recovery effort

of Governors, Pete doggedly championed the Committee, advocating for a Court-cre ated and funded program. Pete loved a challenge. The more complex the problem the better. He took the most complex pre dicament and inevitably identified the most reasonable and straightforward solution. He made it look simple. It never was. He used this incredible skill set to promote the cre ation of a program assisting lawyers with mental health problems. In 2000, he served on KBA’s Task Force on Lawyers Helping Lawyers which examined model structures, funding, and staffing, and recommended implementation of a program operating as a Court agency. He served on the committee to select KYLAP’s first director.

PETE’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO PUBLIC SERVICE ALWAYS WENT TOWARD THE NEED INSTEAD OF THE SPOTLIGHT.

Kentucky’s Supreme Court rules establish ing KYLAP were adopted in 2002, with the program taking effect as an agency January 1, 2004. Pete secured a $50,000 donation from Lawyers Mutual Insurance of Ken tucky, where he was CEO, to cover that interim period and initiate the program prior to the date funding became available. From day one in 2004 until his final days,

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september/october 2026