KRS 15.715: Intervention in criminal prosecutions by Attorney General -- Prosecution of

complaint against local prosecutor -- Performance of duties of local prosecutor

until vacancy filled.

(1) In the event of the incapacity, refusal without sufficient grounds, in ability, conflict

of interest of the local prosecutor, or his failure to act in a certain case or cases, the

council may authorize, by the vote of no less than five (5) of its members, the

Attorney General to initiate, intervene, or supersede a local prose cutor for the

purpose of prosecuting the criminal business in question of the Commonwealth in

that circuit or district after due notice having been given to the local prosecutor.

(2) When the Attorney General shall proceed under subsection (1) of this sect ion, he

shall petition the Circuit Court of that circuit to disqualify the county attorney or

Commonwealth's attorney for good cause shown, when the county attorney or

Commonwealth's attorney refuses to disqualify himself. The action of the Circuit

Court shall be subject to review according to the Rules of the Supreme Court.

(3) If the Attorney General's petition to disqualify the local prosecutor was sustained by

the Circuit Court, the Attorney General shall file and prosecute a complaint against

the local prosecutor pursuant to KRS 61.120.

(4) If the office of Commonwealth's attorney or the office of county attorney becomes

vacant, the Attorney General or his designee shall perform the duties of that office

until such time as the successor of that Commonwe alth's attorney or of that county

attorney shall be appointed or elected as elsewhere provided by law or until the

Commonwealth's attorney or county attorney resumes the duties of his office as

provided by law.

(5) When the Attorney General has been author ized to participate in a given case

pursuant to subsections (1), (2), (3), and (4) of this section, he may, at his own

discretion, direct a Commonwealth's attorney or county attorney from another

circuit or district to serve as the special prosecutor, who shall be reimbursed for all

of his actual expenses.

(6) The Attorney General shall have the duty, within the Forty -eighth Judicial Circuit,

to prosecute any person who receives compensation from the Treasury of the

Commonwealth of Kentucky for all violations of the criminal and penal laws arising

out of, involving or in connection with state funds, or the sale or transfer of goods

or services by or to the Commonwealth or any of its political subdivisions; and

specifically including, but not limited to, all violations set forth in KRS Chapters

521 and 522. Nothing herein shall be construed to change the venue provision

presently existing under Kentucky law as of July 15, 1980.

(7) Whenever the Attorney General shall undertake any of the actions prescribed in this

section, he shall be authorized to exercise all powers and perform all duties in

respect to such criminal actions or proceedings which the prosecuting attorney

would otherwise perform or exercise, including, but not limited to, the authority to

sign, file, and present any and all complaints, affidavits, information, presentments,

accusations, indictments, subpoenas, and processes of any kind, and to appear

before all grand juries, courts, or tribunals.