STANFORD – Following a lengthy procedure which included an investigation and an evidentiary hearing, the Kentucky Supreme Court has ordered the removal of Dwight Hopkins from the office of Lincoln County Circuit Court Clerk.

The opinion and order was finalized Sept. 26, with all Kentucky Supreme Court Justices concurring that Hopkins should be removed from office.

Hopkins was elected to the seat in Nov. 2022 and served for a few months before the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) received seven complaints against Hopkins in March 2023 and he was placed on paid administrative leave in May 2023.

The complaints from employees alleged “acts of unprofessionalism, impropriety, and workplace harassment which created a hostile work environment,” the opinion states.

Following an investigation by the AOC, the director of the AOC concluded Hopkins’ conduct constituted discrimination and unlawful workplace harassment which created a hostile work environment.

The Circuit Court Clerk Conduct Commission received the report and determined Hopkins had violated multiple sections of the Circuit Court Clerk Code of Conduct and recommended public reprimand and other remedial measures.

Hopkins denied the allegations and requested a public hearing before the full Supreme Court.

An evidentiary hearing was held in Feb. 2024.

During the hearing, each of the complainants detailed how Hopkins’ conduct changed after he found out his employees had gone to a movie with his former political opponent, Angie Doolin.

In meetings with Deputy Clerk Norma Atwood, Hopkins used inappropriate analogies, as well as foul and obscene language, and raised his voice on multiple occasions.

Hopkins made numerous sexist and derogatory comments about women saying “women can’t be trusted,” “women cannot tell the truth,” “women can’t help it, it’s just the way they are,” “men in today’s world have a deaf ear and have fallen to believe everything that a woman tells them,” “women have to respect men, but men have to respect God,” and “women need men and men want women.”

Hopkins also told inappropriate stories during the meetings.

“None of Hopkins’s displeasure was related to Atwood’s job performance but on her personal life,” the opinion states.

Hopkins continued to hold regular meetings with Atwood, during which he made her uncomfortable with comments about her appearance while speaking negatively about his own wife’s appearance.

“Other employees heard Hopkins make numerous disrespectful comments about women,” the opinion states.

During the evidentiary hearing, Hopkins admitted to making many of the statements and analogies attributed to him in the complaints.

“Hopkins did not deny republishing sexual rumors about Doolin which were baseless,” the opinion states. “He stated that he regretted many of the things he said and that others were offended by them, but he contended he acted in good faith.”

The Special Commissioner, who oversaw the hearing, filed her Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law which concluded that there was clear and convincing evidence that Hopkins engaged in unlawful harassment, thereby creating a hostile working environment on the basis of sex, and that his action had no legitimate work purpose.

Ky Supreme Court analysis

The authority for removing a circuit court clerk is vested by Section 114(3) of the Kentucky Constitution in the Supreme Court.

The Kentucky Supreme Court justices concluded that Hopkins created a hostile work environment and failed to perform his duties with courtesy and respect.

“On multiple occasions, Hopkins made unwanted, derogatory, demeaning and stereotypical statements toward female employees,” the opinion states. “He used inappropriate analogies when accusing employees of being dishonest. Hopkins yelled and cursed at his deputy clerks during meetings, commented inappropriately regarding Atwood’s appearance while negatively commenting about his own wife’s weight gain and poor appearance, and angrily and loudly expressed his displeasure with his employees’ conduct in their personal lives.”

The opinion states that none of Hopkins statements or actions were related to job performance, but instead were focused on his deputy clerks having a personal relationship and attending events with his political foe.

“Hopkins blatant and repeated violations of the Workplace Policies and Circuit Court Clerk Code are inconsistent with the high standards of integrity, impartiality and independence required of an elected clerk, and are sufficient to warrant his removal from that office,” the opinion states.

By subjecting his employees to a hostile work environment, Hopkins failed to treat them with the courtesy and respect due from a circuit clerk to his subordinate employees, the Supreme Court states.

Hopkins continued to intrude on the personal lives of the employees and attempted to control their activities beyond working hours.

“Upon a review of the entirety of the record, we conclude Hopkins’ repeated inappropriate statements and actions were ‘unquestionably a blatant violation of his obligation to perform his duties with courtesy and respect,’” the opinion states.

“We recognize the significance and severity of the penalty of removing an elected official from his or her office, but nevertheless conclude removal is warranted in this matter,” the opinion states. “As such, we hereby remove Hopkins from the office of the Lincoln Circuit Court Clerk for the remainder of his present term. The Office of the Lincoln Circuit Court Clerk is declared vacant. Hopkins must pay the costs of these proceedings. All sitting. All Concur.”

Hopkins was defeated by Angie Doolin in the May primary election and she will be unopposed in the November general election.

Since May 2023, the duties of the office have been overseen by the Garrard County Circuit Court Clerk Dana Hensely.