Stacey A. Blankenship

PARTNER

sblankenship@kkhblaw.com

AV Distinguished Rating with Martindale-Hubbell

For nearly 30 years, Stacey Blankenship has defended governmental agencies and officials, as well as private employers in and out of the courtroom. Stacey’s experience in representing law enforcement, jail officials, public health departments, and other governmental agencies across the State has helped her develop a statewide reputation of integrity and insight into civil rights, employment law, and personal injury.

Stacey has tried over 25 cases to a jury, over 50 cases to an administrative body, and participated in over 20 appellate oral arguments. In addition, she has presented over 40 seminars to various organizations on the topics of civil rights, open records, and employment law.

Finally, Stacey was named Woman of Achievement by the West Kentucky Business and Professional Women’s Association and was awarded Defense Lawyer of the Year in 2020 by Kentucky Defense Counsel.

Stacey’s work ethic is an attribute that was developed at an early age. She was born and raised in Western Kentucky where she grew up on a dairy farm, assisting with the never-ending chores on a daily basis.

Education

Murray State University, B.S., Cum Laude, 1991
Southern Illinois University, J.D., Cum Laude, 1995

Admitted to Practice

Kentucky, 1995
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. District Court, Western District of Kentucky
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana
U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit

Professional Associations

DRI, The Voice of the Defense Bar
Association of Defense Trial Attorneys
Kentucky Bar Association
Kentucky Bar Foundation
Kentucky Defense Counsel
McCracken County Bar Association

Practice Areas

Administrative Law
Auto Accidents
Civil Rights
Employment & Labor Law
Insurance Defense
Litigations & Appeals
Municipal Law
Personal Injury – Plaintiff
Sexual Harassment
Wrongful Death

Achievements

SuperLawyers® in Civil Rights, 2025
Business and Professional Women’s Association, Woman of Achievement, 2008
Kentucky Defense Counsel, Lawyer of the Year, 2020
Kentucky Defense Counsel, Board of Directors, 2011-2015
Kentucky Bar Association, Legislative Committee, 2009 – Present
Kentucky Bar Foundation, Life Fellow
Martindale-Hubble AV-Distinguished Rating
United Way of Paducah-McCracken County, Board of Directors, 2009-2015
SIU School of Law, Board of Visitors
Paducah Tilghman Mock Trial Coach, 2010-Present
Assistant Commonwealth Attorney for McCracken County, Kentucky, 1995-1997
Leadership Paducah Class #14

Seminars Presented

  • “Pregnancy Workers Fairness Act and Family Medical Leave Act” — Kentucky Public Human Resources Association, Fall Workshop, November 2023

  • “Employment Considerations in Public Health” — 2022 Lake Cumberland District Health Department Supervisor Training, December 2022

  • “Open Records Responses” — Paducah Police Department, September 2022
  • “Government Employment Considerations” — Kentucky Jailers Annual Conference, June 2022
  • “Disciplining and Managing Public Employees” — Kentucky Public Health Association Annual Conference, April 2022
  • “Human Resources Legal Update” – Kentucky City/County Management Association – February 2022
  • “Disciplining and Managing Public Employees” – Christian County, Kentucky – February 2022
  • “Employee Disciplinary Considerations” – Kentucky Association of Counties – June 2021
  • “Employee Disciplinary Considerations” – Kentucky Municipal Clerk’s Association – April 2021
  • “Employee Disciplinary Considerations” – City of Paducah – December 2020
  • “Open Records Act” – Paducah City Commission – December 2020
  • “Open Records Act” – Paducah Police Department – March 2020
  • “Governmental Employment Considerations” – Ballard County, Kentucky – January 2020
  • “Police Officer Bill of Rights and Other Law Enforcement Employment Considerations” – Department of Criminal Justice Training – December 2018
  • “Employee Considerations in the Health Department” – Christian County Health Department – September 2018
  • “Employment Law 101” – Ballard County Fiscal Court – May 2018
  • “Police Officer Bill of Rights” – Kentucky League of Cities Seminar – May 2018
  • “Law Enforcement Employment Law” – Annual DOCJT Conference – December 2017
  • “Employment Considerations for Health Departments” – Todd County Health Department – April 2016
  • “Employment Considerations” – Kentucky Public Health Association, 2015 Fall Retreat, Cumberland Falls – October 2015
  • “Health Department Employment Law” – Kentucky Health Department Associations Fall Retreat – October 2014
  • “Employment Issues with Public Health Departments” – Kentucky Public Health Association, 2014 Annual Retreat, Grand Rivers, Kentucky – October 2014
  • “Jail Liability Issues” – Kentucky Association of Counties, Regional Jailer Training, Grand Rivers, Kentucky – May 2014
  • “Police Officer Bill of Rights–Employment Issues for Uniformed Personnel: Police and Fire” – Kentucky League of Cities, Louisville, KY – October 2012
  • “Employment Issues for Uniformed Personnel: Police and Fire” – Kentucky League of Cities, Lexington, Kentucky – January 27, 2011
  • “Employment Issues for Uniformed Personnel: Police and Fire” – Kentucky League of Cities, Cave City, Kentucky – January 2011
  • “Senate Bill 32 – Inmate Grievance Procedures” – Kentucky Jailers Conference, Lexington, Kentucky – December 2010
  • “Police Practices: Arrest, Search, and Seizure and an Overview of Disorderly Conduct Arrests” – Paducah Police Department – August 2008
  • “Police Practices: Arrest, Search, and Seizure and an Overview of Disorderly Conduct Arrests” – McCracken County Sheriff’s Department – October 2008
  • “Introduction to Jails, More Than Just Bars” – County Officials Leadership Institute, Kentucky Dam Village State Park, Gilbertsville, Kentucky – October 2007
  • “Municipal Employment Law” – Kentucky League of Cities, 2007 Convention and Expo, Covington, Kentucky – October 2007
  • “Wage and Hour – Hiring and Firing for County Government” – County Government Basics London, Kentucky – September 2007
  • “Wage and Hour – Hiring and Firing for County Government” – County Government Basics, Cave City, Kentucky – June 2007
  • “The Prison Litigation Reform Act”- Kentucky Jailer’s Conference – June 2007
  • “Wage and Hour – Hiring and Firing for County Government” – County Government Basics, Kentucky Dam Village State Park, Gilbertsville, Kentucky – May 2007
  • “Signs, Billboards, and Adult Entertainment” – Kentucky League of Cities Planning and Zoning Conference – July 2006
  • “Defending Jails in Strip Search and Wrongful Termination Actions” – KACo Annual Litigation Conference – September 2005
  • “Reducing Jail Liability by Analyzing Recent Cases” – Kentucky Jailer’s Association – June 2005
  • “Civil Rights” – People’s Law School – April 2005
  • “Reducing Jail Liability” – Kentucky Jailer’s Association – June 2004
  • “Reducing Jail Liability by Utilizing the Prison Litigation Reform Act” – Kentucky Association of Counties, KACo Annual Conference – November 2003
  • “How to Avoid Police Liability” – Kentucky League of Cities Annual Conference – September 2003
  • “Probable Cause for Stops, Searches and Arrests” – Paducah Police Department – August 2003
  • “Disciplining and Terminating Police Officers” – Kentucky League of Cities New Officials Training – August 2003
  • “To Drink or Not To Drink” – Kentucky League of Cities Annual Conference – October 2002

Personal

Stacey A. Blankenship was born in Paducah, Kentucky.
She is married to Kenny Blankenship. They have two sons, Jacob and Justin.