On February 24, the Kentucky Supreme Court issued a two-page order, agreeing with a lower state court that the new legislative district boundaries are unconstitutional. Here is the lower court opinion, which struck down the new boundaries because the population of the districts deviates by almost 6%, and because too many counties were split.

The districts that were in use 2001-2010 will be used, unless the legislature is able to quickly draw up a new plan. Filing for the primary had already started. Candidates who now wish to withdraw will not get a refund on their filing fees, but they will be permitted to run regardless of their residency.

This development has no direct impact on independent candidates, or the nominees of unqualified parties. Those candidates are not required to file their petitions until early August, and are not required to file a declaration of candidacy until April. Kentucky has no ballot-qualified parties other than the Democratic and Republican Parties.