Cameron Blau v. Hon Steven D. Wolnitzek in His Official Capacity as Chair, Judicial Conduct Commission

OPINION OF THE COURT BY

JUSTICE VENTERS

Pursuant to CR 76.37(1), we granted the certification request of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky (District Court), to provide the answer under Kentucky law to the following three questions and the associated sub-questions:

Question 1:

Canon 5A(l)(a) states that a judge or judicial- candidate shall not “campaign as a member of a political organization.” What constitutes “campaigning] as a member of a political organization”? As applied to this case, would it include a candidate’s statements in mailers identifying his…