Judge Ogden Suspension
Writ of Prohibition Filed Against Judge Ogden Two Days After Her Suspension
The biological mother argues the family court acted erroneously without due process, an evidentiary hearing, or clear and convincing evidence establishing Zachary’s standing as a de facto custodian under KRS 403.270. She requests that all orders be vacated and the child returned.
Louisville Family Court Judge Lauren Ogden will be suspended without pay for 30 days beginning November 8, 2026. The Judicial Conduct Commission in Kentucky found that the judge had violated individual’s due process rights on numerous occasions in an Order dated October 26, 2026.
Two days after the suspension was publicly announced, another writ was filed alleging the judge violated due process and failed to conduct an evidentiary hearing as required by law. In Kentucky, a writ—such as a writ of prohibition or mandamus—is an extraordinary remedy issued by an appellate court directing a lower court judge or public official to perform a legal duty or refrain from acting outside their authority.
This petition for a writ of prohibition and emergency relief was filed in the Kentucky Court of Appeals by Rebekkah White against Jefferson Family Court Judge Lauren Adams Ogden and Zachary Thomas Dziedzic. Rebekkah, the biological mother, challenges interlocutory orders granting temporary custody of her 8-year-old child to Zachary (the child’s step-father) on October 28, 2026.
The biological mother argues the family court acted erroneously without due process, an evidentiary hearing, or clear and convincing evidence establishing Zachary’s standing as a de facto custodian under KRS 403.270. She requests that all orders be vacated and the child returned.
According to the pleading, Judge Lauren Adams Ogden entered temporary custody orders granting sole custody of the child to the step-father without holding an evidentiary hearing, swearing witnesses, or requiring clear and convincing evidence of de facto custodian status. She also ordered law enforcement to retrieve the child, threatened the mother with contempt, and denied the mother's motion to vacate. Furthermore, she ruled that temporary custody could not be modified without a substantial change in circumstances and scheduled a future default hearing.
Story developing.
Full Writ of Prohibition linked.
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