Jefferson Family Court judge suspended for 30 days from bench after 'numerous complaints'

This story has been updated to include comment from Ogden and her attorney.

Lauren Ogden, a Jefferson Family Court judge, is suspended from the bench for 30 days following a review of her conduct.

Kentucky's Judicial Conduct Commission reviewed video and written records of Ogden's court following "numerous complaints," according to an agreed order of suspension signed Oct. 26. The commission outlined several Commission rules that the family court judge violated, including failure to remain impartial and fair.

"Judge Ogden failed to perform her judicial duties competently and failed to comply with the law in several cases she adjudicated," the order of suspension states. The commission also found that Ogden failed to "establish an environment that upholds the proper decorum required of a courtroom."

"Judge Ogden conducted a hearing with her judicial robe unzipped revealing a shirt covered with a design of two champagne glasses." In another case, she ate food and texted during a proceeding, per the order.

The order highlights that Ogden, appointed to the bench in 2018 by former Governor Matt Bevin, acknowledged "the concerns raised" and "accepted responsibility" for her court and docket.

Ogden "waived formal proceedings" and agreed to the order, the record shows.

"Every person who comes into my courtroom should leave knowing that he or she was heard," Ogden said in an Oct. 26 statement. "That responsibility rests with me. Families who come before the Family Court deserve both prompt attention and a full hearing, and I am committed to providing both. I respect the work of the Judicial Conduct Commission, and I accept its Order."

Peter Ostermiller, a Baltimore-based attorney representing Ogden, said in a statement Ogden was not in a position to comment further "given the nature of proceedings and the Judicial Code provisions limiting public comment on cases which come before her."

"Family Court matters, including custody, parenting time, and protective Orders, often require prompt decisions and place significant emphasis on the welfare of children," said a public statement sent to The Courier Journal by Ostermiller. "Judge Ogden recognizes that these and other considerations cannot come at the expense of giving every party a full and meaningful opportunity to be heard. She also recognizes that the demands of a busy Family Court docket, although substantial, cannot become an explanation for falling short of that obligation. She has acknowledged that her demeanor on the Bench was not always what it should have been."

Ogden's judicial conduct violations

The order states Ogden violated the Code of Judicial Conduct seven times, by:

• failing to perform judicial duties competently;

• failing to comply with the law;

• failing to uphold and promote the independence and impartiality of the judiciary;

• failing to apply the law fairly and impartially;

• failing to perform judicial duties without bias or prejudice;

• failing to accord every person the right to be heard according to law;

• and failing to uphold order and decorum.

Ogden's conduct over family court cases

The nine-page order then outlines Ogden's actions in cases spanning from 2020 to 2026.

Several of the cases outlined in the order claim Ogden failed to comply with the law and did not perform her duties competently, per the Code of Judicial Conduct rules.

In a 2020 custody case, Ogden "blatantly violated a parent's due process rights — without any consideration of or reference to the relevant law," the order alleges.

In doing so, "Ogden facilitated the bodacious action of a non-custodian to remove a child from its mother['s sole custody] in another state with no notice to the mother."

In a 2024 case, Ogden "rendered a Domestic Violence Order (DVO) without making sufficient findings of fact ..." Then after denying a father "due process" or "a meaningful opportunity to be heard," according to the order, Ogden stated, "The standard is very low. I just have to decide who to believe."

In another 2024 case, Ogden allegedly had not "read the case pleadings and other filings, was not familiar with applicable caselaw or statutes and did not know the motion's scope." During a hearing for the case, Ogden allegedly was "sarcastic, waving her hands" and claimed she "did not have a flash drive of evidence despite it being provided to her office three weeks prior to the hearing."

Ogden also was found to not be impartial and fair, allegedly making facial expressions while on the bench, including "rolling her eyes," "dropping her jaw in amazement" and "repeatedly made certain comments such as 'wow' in response to testimony." In one case, she provided a mother with a phone number for Legal Aid to pursue a custody case.

Several cases claimed Ogden allowed parties to speak over each other, failing to maintain control over her courtroom.

"Collectively, these actions by Judge Ogden demonstrate bias and lack of impartiality and highlight her failure to uphold proper judicial decorum," the order states. "For these reasons, Judge Ogden has engaged in misuse of judicial authority and has undermined public confidence in the integrity, impartiality and independence of the judiciary."

Ogden will be required to complete an educational course on "proper conduct of hearings and due process" within the next six months.

Ogden's suspension begins at midnight on Nov. 8 and ends just before midnight on Dec. 8.

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S tephanie Kuzydym is an enterprise and investigative sports reporter. Reach her at skuzydym@courier-journal.com .

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Jefferson Family Court judge suspended for 30 days from bench after 'numerous complaints'