123: How a Vicious Union Busting Campaign Could Cripple Louisville Public Defense w/Cat Vining and Morgan King

May 30, 2023

On last week’s show, Hunter spoke with Babatunde Aremu and demonstrated the ways in which a Public Defender Office could be unionized without causing strife between leadership and line public defenders. Unfortunately today’s episode demonstrates the worst possible scenario for a unionization effort. Hunter sat down with Cat Vining and Morgan King, line public defenders in the Louisville Metro Public Defender Office, to discuss why they unionized and the incredible efforts that leadership took to make sure the union would be crushed. Unlike the rest of the state, Louisville Public Defense historically existed outside of the control of the Depart of Public Advocacy, but when the office decided to unionize, the powers that be stepped in to make a change. Despite the Governor vetoing the bill that would bring the office into the state system (while also calling out the legislation as retribution), the Louisville Metro Public Defender Office now sits on the precipice of a quick, ill planned ascension into the state system. So what comes next for those who rely on the services of the Louisville Metro Public Defender?  

 

 

Guest:

Cat Vining, Line Public Defender, Louisville Metro Public Defender

Morgan King, Line Public Defender, Louisville Metro Public Defender

 

Resources

Folder containing internal emails and other correspondence from Louisville Metro Public Defender Office

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1X8zNcYWtWHMxia1OW1fIEct3LlTI0cQb?usp=sharing

Brief overview of what the Kentucky Supreme Court said, as well as a link to the opinion by the Kentucky Supreme Court as well

https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/kentucky-high-court-tosses-challenge-to-state-lawyers-unionizing 

Article about HB 568 --> https://www.wdrb.com/news/louisville-public-defenders-concerned-about-state-legislation-that-would-change-how-they-get-funding/article_93e36c90-ba37-11ed-8dc9-a773424b6481.html

Gov. Beshear Veto --> https://www.wdrb.com/news/politics/gov-beshear-vetoes-bill-related-to-louisville-public-defenders-office-merging-with-state/article_bb4d6d5e-caad-11ed-b0e0-dbef141919b1.html

Leo Smith's Campaign Contributions --> https://secure.kentucky.gov/kref/publicsearch/AllContributors?FirstName=Leo&LastName=Smith&FromOrganizationName=&ElectionDate=01%2F01%2F0001&City=&State=&Zip=&Employer=&Occupation=&OtherOccupation=&MinAmount=&MaxAmount=&MinimalDate=&MaximalDate=&ContributionMode=&ContributionSearchType=All&PageSize=10&PageIndex=0&ReportId=

- this link hopefully goes straight to Leo Smith's campaign donations, but if not, that website is https://secure.kentucky.gov/kref/publicsearch/AllContributors and you can search Leo Smith's name to see his contribution to James Nemes in 2022, the same state Represenative who filed HB 568 merging our office into the state agency

 

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