FRANKFORT, Ky. -- The Supreme Court of Kentucky today announced that oral arguments will be heard in Northern Kentucky on April 16-17, 2008.  The Supreme Court sessions will be held Wednesday, April 16 and 17, in the Courtroom at the Northern Kentucky University, Salmon P. Chase College of Law, 4th Floor, located at Nunn Drive, Highland Heights.

The Justices will travel to Northern Kentucky for oral arguments in a continuing effort to increase public awareness and understanding of the Court's function and of the legal matters which come before it. All Supreme Court sessions are open to the public.

The Wednesday, April 16th, 2008, docket is as follows:

9:00 a.m.       COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY, CABINET FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES, ET AL.  V. T.G., MOTHER  (2007-SC-436-DGE) AND (CROSS-MOTION) T.G., MOTHER V. COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY, CABINET FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES, ET AL. (2007-SC-821-DGE)

"Termination of Parental Rights. Issues include the constitutionality of KRS 625.090(1)(a)(1), either facially or in application."

Discretionary review granted 10/24/2007 and 12/12/2007

Jefferson Circuit Court, Judge Stephen M. George
For Movants/Cross-Respondent:  Erika Saylor and Catherine I. Wallace 
For Respondent/Cross-Movants:  Gregory W. Butrum

10:00 a.m.     DIXON V. COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY (2006-SC-682-MR)

"First degree assault, first degree robbery and first degree rape – 47 years.  Were defendant's double jeopardy rights violated by his conviction of first degree assault and first degree rape for the same physical injury?  Should the jury have been instructed on facilitation to commit robbery and rape as lesser included offences to commit those crimes."

Greenup Circuit Court, Judge Lewis D. Nicholls
For Appellant:  Donna L. Boyce
For Appellee:  Jason Bradley Moore

11:00 a.m.     CHILDERS OIL COMPANY, INC. V. ADKINS, ET AL. (2007-SC-32-DG)

"Employment Discrimination. Age Discrimination. Punitive Damages. Jury Instructions. Sufficiency of Evidence. In action alleging employment discrimination based on age, issues include whether objection to jury instruction permitting punitive damages under KRS Chapter 344 was properly preserved; and whether plaintiffs evidence was insufficient to support finding of age-based discrimination and/or award of damages for emotional distress."

Discretionary review granted 8/15/2007

Pike Circuit Court, Judge Steven D. Combs
For Movant:  Lawrence E. Forgy, Jr. and Darrell Hall
For Respondents:  Lawrence R. Webster

The Thursday, April 17, 2008 docket is as follows:

9:00 a.m.       BURTON V. CSX TRANSPORTATION, INC. (2006-SC-695-DG)

"Personal Injury. Exposure to Toxic Substances. Evidence. Issues include the propriety of (1) excluding some opinion evidence of a plaintiffs expert, (2) excluding a study of similar injuries experienced by others also exposed to the same type of substances, and (3) declaring a defense witness eligible to testify pursuant to Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 509 U.S. 579,113 S.Ct. 2786, 125 L.Ed.2d 469 (1993)."

Discretionary review granted 2/14/2007

Jefferson Circuit Court, Judge A.C. McKay Chauvin
For Movant:  Kenneth L. Sales, Joseph D. Satterley, Paul Jason Kelley, and Corey Ann Finn
For Respondent:  Raymond G. Smith, Edward H. Stopher, David T. Klapheke, and Scott A. Davidson

10:00 a.m.     NAIL V. COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY (2006-SC-753-DG)

"Criminal Law. Assault with Dangerous Instrument. KRS 500.080(3). In a case in which a baby sustained serious physical injury as a result of having been violently shaken by the defendant, primarily at issue is whether the defendant's hands fall within the statutory definition of "dangerous instrument."

Discretionary review granted 1/18/2007

Hardin Circuit Court, Judge Janet P. Coleman
For Movant:  Linda Roberts Horsman
For Respondent:  Samuel J. Floyd, Jr.
(Note:  Justice Abramson is recused)

11:00 a.m.     HARTSFIELD V. COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY (2007-SC-77-DG)

"Criminal Law. Right to Confrontation. Following death of alleged rape victim prior to defendant's trial, issues raised in motion in limine relate to the admissibility, in light of Crawford v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36, 124 S.Ct. 1354, 158 L.Ed. 2d 177 (2004), of statements made by alleged victim to the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner during medical examination and collection of evidence, and statements made by the alleged rape victim after she ran from her home following the incident."

Discretionary review granted 5/16/2007

Fayette Circuit Court, Judge Gary D. Payne
For Movant:  V. Gene Lewter
For Respondent:  Kenneth Wayne Riggs
(Note:  Justice Abramson is recused)

The public is invited to attend the oral argument sessions. Following the final argument each day, the Justices will address questions from the audience.  Questions should not relate to the cases just heard, or to other pending cases.

The state’s court of last resort traditionally meets in the Capitol Building in Frankfort.  The appearance in Northern Kentucky is part of an ongoing public education program begun in 1985 when the Court traveled to Louisville to hear oral arguments, the first time a state Supreme Court session was ever held outside Frankfort. Since that time, sessions have been held in locations across the state. Further questions may be addressed to Susan Stokley Clary, Supreme Court Administrator, at 502-564-5444.