CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – For the first time in history, Campbellsville University was a host for the highest court in the state, the Kentucky Supreme Court. Four cases were presented in Ransdell Chapel on Sept. 16-17, and each case was open to the public. Both CU students and the surrounding high schools were invited to witness the judicial process firsthand.

Since renovations began in August 2025, the Kentucky Supreme Court has been heard in several universities across the state, including the University of Kentucky, the University of Louisville and Western Kentucky University.

Shawn Williams, a professor of political science at Campbellsville University, commented on the importance of hosting the Kentucky Supreme Court at CU. He explained that the Supreme Court is the “court of final authority,” which guides the lower courts of a state in their decision-making.

“When most people think about court cases, they think of law and order, where the goal is to figure out whether the person is guilty or innocent,” Williams said. “The Supreme Court doesn’t care about that. It’s about making sure that a person’s rights, or due process, or that the law has been followed … So, in a sense, their job is to referee the referees.”

This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most, being able to witness the judicial branch in action.

“It’s the first time it’s happened in our history,” he said. “It’s the fact that they’ve never been here before, and it will maybe be 100 years before they come back.”

According to Williams, students can learn a subject more deeply when they get an opportunity to experience what they are learning and see how it is applied in real-life situations. While witnessing a case hearing, he advised students to pay attention to the questions asked by the justices during the proceedings.

“Pay attention to the process,” he said. “They’re interrogating the attorneys … and the way they’re asking the questions can help give you insight to what they’re thinking the outcome should be.”

During the hearings, the justices were seated on stage, facing the audience, while the attorneys faced away from the audience and spoke to the justices. During the attorneys’ pleas, a justice would interrupt with a question to further understand the case given. Often, the attorney had to retell the complete story of the case for the justice’s benefit, which also benefited the audience to further understand the background of the case. Once each hearing began, the audience was ordered to silence, and once a guest left, they were not welcomed back until the next hearing.

Carly Goff, a junior at Green County High School, observed oral arguments in the first two cases on Sept. 16 with the rest of her class. She commented on the impact it had on her, specifically with the attorneys’ and the justices’ “real-time reactions.”

“I feel like a lot of people don’t realize necessarily how fast they are,” she said. “And they’re timed. So, they have to be very careful with their choice of words and such.”

More than a year ago, Rev. Dr. John Chowning, a former vice president of Campbellsville University, was contacted by Chief Justice of Kentucky Debra Hembree Lambert, asking if the university was available to host the Kentucky Supreme Court. Over several months, virtual meetings were held to discuss the logistics before staff members from the Supreme Court visited the campus to decide where the proceedings would be held.

“Numerous CU staff and faculty have been involved in preparing for the Supreme Court session,” said Chowning. “Several Campbellsville University team members have worked very hard in preparing for and in hosting the two-day visit.”

Chowning expressed the honor of hosting the Kentucky Supreme Court by explaining that the executive and legislative branches of state government are very accessible to the public. However, the judicial branch, which consists of the Supreme Court, is not as visible.

“The judicial branch does not function with as much visibility and coverage, but the decisions rendered by the judiciary and the Kentucky Supreme Court have important implications for the general public over time,” he said. “This is an opportunity few Kentuckians have had.”

Future cases and their locations can be found at the Kentucky Court of Justice website under Oral Arguments Calendars. Oral Arguments Calendars - Kentucky Court of Justice

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university that offers over 100 programs, including doctoral, master's, bachelor's, associate and certificate programs. For complete information, please visit www.campbellsville.edu