We are proud to announce Volume 114 of the Kentucky Law Journal!

The thirty-two new staff members were selected through a competitive write-on process and will be entrusted with continuing KLJ’s tradition of excellence in legal scholarship.

We look forward to the contributions this group will make to the journal and to the furthering of Kentucky Law Journal’s tradition of excellence.

Senior Staff Members

Brooke Allison
Hannah Carroll
Nathan Clark
Steven G. Dabney, Jr.
Grace Denton
Riley Fort
Matthew W. Givens
Brandon Gonzalez Jimenez
Preston R. Goodman
Claire Gussler
Lucas Hall
William J. Haydon
Michael Kern
John T. Lambert
Bridget Lienau
B. Basil. F. McCoy
Kristen Price
Conor Washburn

Editorial Board

Matthew B. Chaney
Emma P. Collins
Dalton Gregory
Tori Harris
Alex Heaton
Amanda Lindsey
Casey Parker-Bell
Katherine Nipper
Elijah Raymond
Ben Schaeffer
Benjamin Scott
John Simms
Bradley P. Simpson
Joshua Wetzel
Ben Whatley
Leigha Whitridge

Staff Members

Mitchell L. Barber
Nathan Brummett
Hadley Christensen
Maiah L. Cisco
Mallie Cornett
Will Cox
Maggie Dowdy
Helen Driver
Ursula Fuller-Wisner
Logan M. Hopson
Claire Irish
Emma James
Harper S. Johnson
Olivia Kiser
Zachary L. Lee
Jason Marcus
Jay McCormick
Jon E. B. McGee
Azia Meeks
Jarrett Blake Napier
Ashley Peal
Austin Phillips
Garrett Fonville Sams
Caroline Shackleton
Madelin Shelton
William D. Smiley
William A. Stansell
Lilly Stephens
Allison Viney
Katherine Walker
Julia Wattenbarger
Alexandra Wesley

Featured

Feb 7, 2026

Aging Peacefully: Kentucky’s Bourbon Barrel Tax Phaseout

Feb 7, 2026

Nearly all of the world’s bourbon is produced in the Commonwealth, with the aging barrels outnumbering the local residents. Until recently, Kentucky was the only state to place a tax on those aging barrels, turning the state’s signature industry into a significant tax revenue source that funded state and local governments. Yet, in 2023, the Kentucky General Assembly voted to phase out the tax on aging barrels. KLJ Vol. 114 Staff Editor Ashley Peal adds insight as to how this phase out will impact key stakeholders in the Commonwealth.

Feb 7, 2026

Feb 6, 2026

Kentuckians, Put Down Your Vapes: An Analysis of Kentucky Vaping Regulations

Feb 6, 2026

In the United States, electronic cigarette usage is rising and represents “the most commonly used tobacco product” plaguing the youth population. In the Commonwealth, this problem is of particular concern as Kentucky has the second highest rate of e-cigarette use in the nation. KLJ Vol. 114 Staff Editor Lilly Stephens proposes a solution to the crisis by calling on the Commonwealth’s legislature to continue increasing the state tax on all sales of vapor products.

Feb 6, 2026