Kentucky’s first female chief justice credits Appalachian upbringing for her commitment to fairness

FRANKFORT,Ky.(AP)—Kentucky’sfirstfemalechiefjusticesaidTuesdaythatshe’s“nevergivenmuchthoughttogender,”anoutlooksheattributedinparttoherupbringingwhensheworkedatherfather’sautoshop. “Idon’tthinkyoucanexpectgoodorbaddecisionsthatImightmakeaschief(justice)tobeeithercloudedorenhancedbymydoubleXchromosomes,”saidChiefJusticeDebraHembreeLambert.“Theywillsimplybeeithergoodorbaddecisions—andcarefullymade.” LambertwaschosenbyhercolleaguesonthestateSupremeCourtlastyeartosucceedLauranceVanMeteraschiefjusticeafterheoptednottoseekreelectionin2024.HerAppalachianupbringingalsoforgedhercommitmenttofairnessandforeveryonetohaveavoice,shesaidTuesday. Lambertalsosaidthatit’s“especiallynice”tobepartofthefirstfemalemajorityonKentucky’sSupremeCourt.Kentucky’stopleadersmarkedbothmilestonesduringaceremonyintheSupremeCourtchambers.TheeventinitiallywassetforJanuarybutawinterstormf