House abortion restrictions champion running for Kentucky Supreme Court against incumbent
Northern Kentucky state Rep. Joe Fischer, a socially conservative Republican who has led his party's fight to restrict abortion in the House, filed to run Wednesday for the Kentucky Supreme Court in 2022.
Fischer hopes to unseat Sixth District incumbent Justice Michelle Keller, who was first appointed by former Gov. Steve Beshear in 2013 and was reelected to her current eight-year term in 2014.
An attorney from Campbell County, Fischer has served in the Kentucky General Assembly since 1998.
Fischer was the main sponsor of a proposed constitutional amendment in this year's session to state that there is no right to an abortion in Kentucky. The legislation easily passed both chambers and will be voted on in a statewide ballot referendum in the November election.
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Additionally, Fischer in recent years has been the chief sponsor of bills that passed giving the attorney general authority to independently regulate and enforce violations on the state's two abortion clinics, banning the "dilation and evacuation" abortion procedure and enacting a "trigger law" to outright ban abortion in Kentucky if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns the landmark Roe v. Wade decision.
"My career as an attorney and experience as a member of the House Judiciary Committee for so many years has provided me with a unique perspective regarding the needs of Kentucky’s courts," Fischer stated in a press release announcing his candidacy. "If elected, I will continue defending the rule of law and will support measures to ensure our judicial system effectively serves all citizens of our Commonwealth."
Fischer's press release went on to tout his active involvement in organizations like
Northern Kentucky Right to Life and the Federalist Society.
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Fischer is the first candidate to file for a challenge against Keller, who filed for reelection in early November.
The composition of the Kentucky Supreme Court could be dramatically altered come 2023, as four of the seven seats are up for election in 2022, including the two left open from the retirements of Chief Justice John Minton Jr. and Justice Lisabeth Tabor Hughes.
No challenger has yet filed to run against incumbent Justices Christopher Shea Nickell, who filed to run for another term in early November.
Reach reporter Joe Sonka at jsonka@courierjournal.com and follow him on Twitter at @joesonka. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today at the top of this page.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: House abortion restrictions leader running for Kentucky Supreme Court
