Kentucky

Here is a lengthy story filed at the Herald Leader's PolWatcher's Blog by Brandon Ortiz, the Herald Leader's Supreme Court reporter -

Girlfriend of chief justice's son gets court job

A woman dating a son of Chief Justice Joseph E. Lambert has been hired for a human resources job opening that was not advertised.

Joanna M. Cruz, 26, started at the new position of benefits administrator for the Court of Justice on March 1. The job pays $39,684 a year and is responsible for planning and directing benefits, such as unemployment insurance and worker's compensation, for the court system's 4,000 employees.

Cruz is dating Joseph P. Lambert, 23, whom she met while attending Princeton University. She graduated in June 2004 with a bachelor's degree in religion.

Joseph P. Lambert is the chief justice's oldest son.

"The position should have been posted and advertised," said Richard Beliles, chairman of Common Cause of Kentucky, a government watchdog group. "It does sort of get my attention."

Courts officials denied creating a position for Cruz. No one else applied for the job.

click here for rest of story.