By Shawntaye Hopkins
Denis Fleming Jr., a 1983 graduate of the University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law, has published a new book titled, "Thomas Jefferson and the Kentucky Constitution." He plans to donate all royalties from the book, with a matching gift, to the college for a scholarship fund.
A Louisville native, Fleming received his bachelor’s degree with distinction from the UK College of Arts and Sciences and then stayed at UK for law school. He said an undergraduate course in constitutional law taught by Professor Emeritus Bradley Canon in the College of Arts and Sciences helped ignite his interest in law school.
In the book, Fleming examines Thomas Jefferson's connection to Kentucky’s constitution. The author uses firsthand accounts from Jefferson, John Breckinridge, and the papers of George Nicholas, who was a key figure behind Kentucky's first constitution, to show the influence these men had on the 1792 charter.
Sheryl G. Snyder, a 1971 alumnus who was inducted into the Law Alumni Association Hall of Fame in 2018, wrote the foreword. Fleming said a 1984 article that Snyder wrote for the Kentucky Law Journal inspired the book.
“Much has been written about the separation of governmental powers under the Constitution of Kentucky (including my 1984 Kentucky Law Journal article), but this book accesses historical resources rarely if ever used on this topic,” Snyder wrote in the foreword. Snyder called the book “impeccably researched” and a “good read.”
Fleming said he believes civic-minded citizens interested in history, particularly Kentucky history, as well as members of the judiciary who frequently deal with state constitutional questions and practitioners, would be interested in the book.
“The book – for the first time – demonstrates the influence of Jefferson on Kentucky’s constitution, and that is done by direct references to Jefferson and the papers of George Nicholas,” Fleming said.
He said there has long been doubt that Jefferson had any influence on Kentucky’s constitution.
After receiving his law degree, Fleming practiced throughout Kentucky. He served as general counsel to the Economic Development Cabinet under Kentucky Governors Wallace Wilkinson and Brereton Jones (1988-1993), general counsel to the governor and deputy secretary of the executive cabinet under Governor Paul Patton (1995-2003) and as chief deputy attorney general under Attorney General Greg Stumbo (2003-2004). In 2004, Fleming was appointed chief of staff to Congressman Ben Chandler in the U.S. House of Representatives. Fleming later worked with Almost Family Inc., a Kentucky-based national homecare provider, as senior vice president and legislative counsel.
Fleming said he decided to donate royalties from the book to the law school because of the college’s role in his career success. He recalled several encouraging professors, including Bob Lawson and Bill Fortune.
“UK law school just opened up the world to me,” Fleming said. “It gave me more opportunities and chances to meet people who really changed my life.”
“Thomas Jefferson and the Kentucky Constitution” is Fleming’s first book. He contacted the college before the book published on Feb. 11, 2025, to discuss his plans to give back. Fleming plans to match the book royalties, and he plans to visit the law school soon to talk with students about his research.
“We are pleased that one of our alums has decided to support the college in this way,” said Aimee Baston, director of philanthropy for the UK Rosenberg College of Law. “This scholarship will help law students by opening doors to meaningful opportunities similar to those that motivated Denis Fleming to give back to his alma mater.”
For information about purchasing “Thomas Jefferson and the Kentucky Constitution” by Denis Fleming Jr., click here.