Judge Blocks Bevin’s U of L Board Appointments

After Shepherd’s issued the temporary injunction Friday, Bevin’s press spokeswoman, Amanda Stamper, said Bevin will appeal and is confident he will prevail.

In a statement issued on Friday, Beshear called the ruling a “win” for Kentucky students, their families and the state’s public universities.

Bevin filed suit arguing that the governor was overstepping his constitutional authority in dissolving the UofL board.

Thursday, Ramsey issued a statement saying, “I intend to continue my service to the University of Louisville through the Foundation in whatever capacity the Foundation Board thinks best”. The move is a response to a lawsuit brought by Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear about the legality of the new Board of Trustees.

Bevin could appeal the judge’s decision.

Shepherd won’t issue a final ruling until he has read briefs and heard final arguments from both Beshear and Bevin’s attorneys.

The new Board, which approved the resignation of Pres. James Ramsey on Wednesday, was acting under orders from the Governor. He named 10 new members to the new board of trustees and reappointed three previous members. “I will continue my job of enforcing our Constitution’s separation of powers so that no one branch of government, regardless of who leads it, has absolute power”. “It’s in the governor’s or judges, or whoever. We will have further communication following that meeting”.

Former and now apparently current trustee Jonathan Blue told IL that he interpreted Shepherd’s ruling as meaning he is now a trustee again for the time being.

That’s been one of Beshear’s arguments in court, that Bevin’s actions infringe upon the legislature’s powers through statutes it created setting specified terms and processes for removal of university trustees, in addition to arguing the reorganization violates those specific statutes.

“It’s not in our hands”, Junior Bridgeman, chairman of the board, said. Benz told IL that he agrees with Blue’s assessment about returning to the Foundation’s board.

“An executive vice president at the university is under FBI investigation for possibly misusing federal funds”.

This story will be updated.