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title: "Debra Hembree Lambert | KnowJudges"
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# Debra Hembree Lambert

Kentucky Supreme Court · Chief Justice

## Profile

- Court: Kentucky Supreme Court
- State: Kentucky
- Role: Chief Justice
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-08-22

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### remote hearing platform

Scope: statewide

Kentucky Court of Justice publishes statewide instructions for using Zoom to participate in remote court proceedings.

Evidence excerpt: This page provides general instructions about how to use Zoom to participate in a remote court proceeding.

[Kentucky Court of Justice: Remote Court General Instructions](https://kycourts.gov/Courts/Pages/Remote-Court-Information.aspx)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### video voice content sharing

Scope: statewide

Kentucky identifies Zoom as a platform that supports video, voice, and content sharing for desktops, mobile devices, phones, and room systems.

Evidence excerpt: Zoom is a videoconferencing platform that offers video, voice and content sharing for desktops, mobile devices, phones and room systems.

[Kentucky Court of Justice: Remote Court General Instructions](https://kycourts.gov/Courts/Pages/Remote-Court-Information.aspx)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### county login information

Scope: statewide

Kentucky directs parties to obtain specific remote-court login information from the circuit court clerk for the county where they are scheduled to appear.

Evidence excerpt: To request specific login information for your court event, contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in the county in which you are scheduled to appear.

[Kentucky Court of Justice: Remote Court General Instructions](https://kycourts.gov/Courts/Pages/Remote-Court-Information.aspx)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/Supreme-Court/Pages/default.aspx)
- [Official roster](https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/Supreme-Court/Pages/default.aspx)
- [Kentucky Court of Justice official judicial roster](https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/Supreme-Court/Pages/default.aspx)
- [Kentucky Court of Justice: Remote Court General Instructions](https://kycourts.gov/Courts/Pages/Remote-Court-Information.aspx)

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## Biography

### Professional career

- 2024–present: Elected by her colleagues as Chief Justice for a four-year term starting January 6, 2025
- American jurist who has held the role of Chief Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court since January 6, 2025, and has been a Justice of that court since 2019
- 2018–present: Elected Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court from the 3rd Supreme Court District (25 counties)
- As Chief Justice, Lambert chairs the Kentucky Judicial Commission on Mental Health, a 2022 initiative to improve judicial responses to mental health, substance use, and intellectual disabilities
- 2014–2018: Judge of the Kentucky Court of Appeals, 3rd District, Division 1
- 1999–2007: Appointed by then-Governor Paul E. Patton as Family Court Judge for the 28th Judicial Circuit (Lincoln, Pulaski, Rockcastle counties).
- The first woman to serve as Chief Justice of Kentucky

### Education

- B.A. from Eastern Kentucky University (1983) and her J.D. from the University of Kentucky College of Law (1989).

### Additional information

- She created the first Drug Court in the area, earning induction into the Stanley M. Goldstein Drug Court Hall of Fame in 2002
- Began her legal career in Mount Vernon, KY, as Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney and City Attorney, before entering judicial service
- Lambert’s judicial career spans more than 17 years across multiple levels of the Kentucky court system