FRANKFORT- The most powerful man in the Senate went head to head with the most powerful judge in Kentucky. 

In a rare move--Chief Justice John Minton--testified against Senate President Robert Stivers bill, Senate Bill 2. 

The bill would create a lottery system essentially for challenges relating to the legislative or executive branch. 

Currently-any challenges to legislation are heard in Franklin County Circuit Court--but Senate President Stivers says this creates essentially a super circuit--and it should be divided among judges throughout the commonwealth.

"If you want to talk about the equity, that one circuit has such substantial power that all the people in Kentucky don't get to vote on, is what I have defined as a 'super circuit'," Sen. Stivers said. "I think it is our prerogative as set out by the whole 452 sections, we get to set the venue." 

But Chief Justice Minton says this would be a disastrous move. 

"We have conjured up a hurricane to extinguish a match. It has huge ramifications not just for the judges, if you are not concerned about the judges, or the expense to the court of justice, but the clients," Justice Minton said. "Your client is going to be displaced from his or her local jurisdiction and sent somewhere else." 

Justice Minton went on to ask lawmakers to reconsider passing this legislation. 

"It's a serious matter, Mr. Chairman. That's why I have taken the unusual step to come here and talk to you all about this and implore you, don't do this to the system. Don't do this to the system," Justice Minton said. 

But Republican Senators were quick to jump to President Stivers side. 

"I think it does put an undue amount of weight and influence on the judges in that circuit," said Sen. Whitney Westerfield, R-Hopkinsville. "regardless of their decisions, regardless of how ruling affects this party or that, or this policy or that. It really doesn't matter, it's a lot of influence and weight coming from one  judicial circuit that  has absolutely nothing  different about it from any other judicial circuit in the commonwealth."

Tom FitzGerald, Director of the Kentucky Resources  Council,  warned lawmakers this isn't the right move. 

"There is a familiarity, or a competence in dealing with this very specific area of law that may be lost and to the disadvantage of all parties," he sad. 

There has been accusations that Stivers crafted this bill at the request of Gov. Matt Bevin, R-Kentucky, who has let his opinion for Franklin Circuit Court Judge Phillip Shepherd be known, Stivers says he hasn't spoken to the Executive Branch about this. 

Despite the objections from Justice Minton the measure passed out of committee.