LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — The Louisville Metro Ethics Commission is asking a judge to temporarily stop a new state law from taking effect that would dissolve the current commission and change how its members and attorney are selected.

According to court records, the Louisville Ethic Commission filed an injunction in Jefferson County Circuit Court on Wednesday, May 27, petitioning the courts to temporarily block the implementation of Kentucky House Bill 607. 

House Bill 607 was passed by the Kentucky General Assembly in March and sent to Gov. Andy Beshear's desk, where he vetoed it. The Legislature then overrode the veto in April.

House Bill 607 would eliminate Louisville's current ethics commission and gives the county attorney the control to appoint new commission members and the commission's legal counsel.

"The scheme envisions by HB 607 is clearly designed to undo the relief this court has granted, and to undo ethics enforcement in Louisville altogether," the motion states.

In addition, the ethics commission is also calling the bill unconstitutional, as it only singles out Louisville's ethics entity and no other in the state. 

"This scheme aims to disband the Plaintiff Louisville Metro Ethics Commission—and no other ethics commission in the state—and to then replace it with a body composed of partisan-based appointees," the motion said.

The ethics commission, the body responsible for investigating and enforcing violations of local ethics laws by elected leaders and city officials, argues the county attorney's involvement is a conflict of interest as the commission oversees that office. 

Louisville Metro Government and Louisville Ethics Commission has been an ongoing legal battle for years. 

First, in October 2023, the commission sued Metro Government and Jefferson County Attorney Mike O'Connell for not having total control over its own records. 

Then, in August 2025, the Louisville Ethics Commission sued Metro Government, challenging the county attorney's role in appointing the commission's legal counsel.

A judge will hear the injunction motion in court on Monday, June 1. 

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