Kentucky Chief Justice John D. Minton Jr. has denied a request by Republican Gov. Matt Bevin to disqualify a judge from ruling on a lawsuit challenging the legality of a bill that overhauls the state's pension system.
Bevin signed a law earlier this year that would move all new teachers into a hybrid pension system. It would also change how current teachers use sick days to calculate their retirement benefits. Democratic Attorney General Andy Beshear sued to block the law, saying it was unconstitutional.
Franklin County Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd has the case. But Bevin's attorneys asked him to recuse himself because he belongs to one of the state's retirement systems. When Shepherd refused, Bevin's lawyers asked Minton to replace him.
Minton denied that request Wednesday. He said Bevin has not shown Shepherd should be disqualified.
