Heyburn graduated from Harvard University with his Artium Baccalaureus degree in 1970 where he also lettered in cross-country and track, completed several Boston Marathons, and was a member of the Owl Club.

He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 1976 and was a member of its National Moot Court Team.

[2] In 1994, Chief Justice Rehnquist appointed Heyburn to serve on the Budget Committee of the Judicial Conference of the United States.

[citation needed] On February 11, 2014, Heyburn ruled in Bourke v. Beshear that the Commonwealth of Kentucky must recognize same-sex marriages performed in states where those unions are legal.

[4] On July 1, 2014, Heyburn ruled again in favor of same sex marriage, declaring that same-sex couples have a right to marry in Kentucky.

He wrote "In America, even sincere and long-hold religious beliefs do not trump the constitutional rights of those who happen to have been out-voted", in response to arguments put forth by attorney Leigh Latherow, who was hired by Gov.

The argument put forth by the Ashland attorney was solely justified by the assertion that traditional marriages contribute to a more stable birth rate, which in turn bolsters the state's economic health.