Speaking from the bench at a hear­ing in a Kentucky cap­i­tal case, Fayette Circuit Judge Pamela Goodwine said, ​“Something needs to be done leg­isla­tive­ly in Kentucky and in every state in the U.S. I think the death penal­ty prob­a­bly should not be a penal­ty, ever.” Despite her per­son­al views, Goodwine ruled that the death penal­ty could be sought against a man accused of par­tic­i­pat­ing in a mur­der, even though he did not shoot the vic­tim. ​“As the law in Kentucky stands right now … he’s death-eli­gi­ble as a con­spir­a­tor in this case,” Goodwine said. ​“That’s the law as it stands right now. I, as a tri­al judge, have to fol­low that law whether I agree with it or not. If I had my druthers, there would be no death penal­ty in Kentucky.” She added that she was frus­trat­ed with the time and expense of cap­i­tal cas­es and the emo­tion­al toll they take on everyone involved. 

(G. Kocher, ​“Fayette cir­cuit judge: ​‘The death penal­ty prob­a­bly should not be a penal­ty, ever,’ ” Lexington Herald-Leader, January 8, 2015). See New Voices and Recent Legislation.

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