American Idol (season 8) American Idol (season 8) The eighth season of "American Idol" premiered on January 13, 2009, and concluded on May 20, 2009. Judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson continued to judge the show's contestants, along with Ryan Seacrest as host. The season introduced Kara DioGuardi as the fourth judge on the "Idol" panel. It was also Abdul's final season as a judge. Kris Allen, a native of Conway, Arkansas, was announced the winner of the competition on May 20, 2009, defeating runner-up Adam Lambert after nearly 100 million votes. This was the second season where both of the final
Peter Jackson (judge) would be able to read and comprehend it themselves. The ruling is thought to be the first in English legal history to incorporate an emoji, or web symbol, to explain a point of evidence. In October 2016 Judge Jackson ruled on the case of a 14-year-old girl (referred to in the judgment as JS) dying of cancer. The judgment was technically that the mother should be allowed to decide about disposal of her body on death. The Judge visited the girl in hospital, at her request, shortly before her death. Judge Jackson ruled 'with real regret' that the Court could