Judge Lets Beshear Intervene in Retirement Suit

A state judge has ruled Kentucky's Democratic attorney general can intervene in a lawsuit challenging the Republican governor's decision to remove the chairman of the state's retirement system board of trustees.

The decision means Attorney General Andy Beshear now has three pending lawsuits against Republican Gov. Matt Bevin. Both men were elected last year.

Earlier this year Bevin issued an executive order removing Thomas Elliot as chairman of the retirement systems' board of trustees. The system is among the worst funded in the country with unfunded liabilities of more than $19 billion.

Elliott sued, saying Bevin did not have the authority to remove him. Bevin then issued another executive order, abolishing the board and re-establishing it under new rules. Tuesday, Kentucky Retirement Systems Executive Director Bill Thielen testified he believes Bevin's orders are illegal.