Rep. Kulkarni cleared for Nov. 5 ballot by Franklin Circuit judge. Appeal quickly filed.

FRANKFORT — Franklin Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd issued a ruling Monday afternoon that allows state Rep. Nima Kulkarni, a Louisville Democrat, to seek reelection in November after months of court battles that went to the state Supreme Court. However, the lawyer for a primary challenger has already filed another appeal.

In his order, Shepherd wrote that it was “not in the public interest for the Courts to intervene and dictate the result of this election” and that doing so “would effectively disenfranchise the voters of the District.”

“In the circumstances of this case, the public interest requires denial of injunctive relief, which would thwart the will of the voters, as well as the will of the political party whose nomination is at issue,” Shepherd wrote.

Shepherd’s ruling is consistent with Secretary of State Michael Adams’ action in response to a state Supreme Court ruling that found that because of problems in her filing papers, Kulkarni was disqualified from the May primary election in the 40th House District. After that ruling, Adams declared a vacancy on the November ballot and invited political parties to submit nominees.



https://kentuckylantern.com/2024/09/09/rep-kulkarni-cleared-for-nov-5-ballot-by-franklin-circuit-judge-appeal-quickly-filed/