Judge Pamela Goodwine is no stranger to firsts — she was the first Black woman in Lexington to be district judge and, later, the first to be circuit judge. She became the first Black woman to serve on the Kentucky Court of Appeals after being elected in 2018.

After her historic win Tuesday night, which saw her become the first Black woman elected to the Kentucky Supreme Court, Pamela Goodwine fielded cheers, hugs and photos from a crowd of supporters. As her watch party wound down at the Elwood Hotel in Lexington,

Court of Appeals Judge Pamela Goodwine has won a seat on the Kentucky Supreme Court where she will become the first Black female justice in the state’s history.

LEX 18 has been following the race, and now the results are in. Kentucky Court of Appeals Judge Pamela Goodwine is heading to Frankfort to claim a seat on the Kentucky Supreme Court.

The 5th Supreme Court District's seat opened up after Chief Justice Laurance VanMeter announced in 2023 he would not seek reelection.