Kentucky Court of Appeals

Last updated
Kentucky Court of Appeals
Established1792
Jurisdiction Kentucky, United States
Location Frankfort, Kentucky
Composition methodNon-partisan election
Authorized by Kentucky Constitution
Appeals to Kentucky Supreme Court
Number of positions14
Website Official Website
Chief Judge
Currently Larry E. Thompson
SinceDecember 6, 2023

The Kentucky Court of Appeals is the intermediate court of Kentucky's two appellate courts, under the Kentucky Supreme Court. Prior to a 1975 amendment to the Kentucky Constitution, the Kentucky Court of Appeals was the court of last resort and only appellate court in Kentucky.

Contents

History

Similar to the federal constitution, Kentucky's first constitution directly established the state's highest court while delegating the authority to establish lower courts to the legislature. [1]

The Kentucky Court of Appeals remained the highest court in the state until 1975 when a constitutional amendment was passed by ballot referendum to reorganize reorganize Kentucky's judicial system. The Kentucky Supreme Court was formed and made the new highest court of the state while the Court of Appeals became the state's intermediate court. [2]

In addition, the amendment made all judicial election's nonpartisan and abolished the office of Clerk of the Court of Appeals as a statewide elected constitutional office. The clerkship was the first elected office held by future governor Martha Layne Collins, who defeated future Kentucky Chief Justice Joseph Lambert in 1975. Collins was the last individual to be elected clerk, and subsequently the first to serve as clerk of the Kentucky Supreme Court. [3]

Function

The Kentucky Court of Appeals has a headquarters building and courtroom in Frankfort. Unlike the Kentucky Supreme Court however, the three-judge panels of the Kentucky Court of Appeals frequently hear cases in courthouses all over Kentucky.

The chief judge assigns judges and cases to panels. Membership of the panels rotate so that all judges sit on at least one panel with each of their colleagues in any given year. Usually one judge is chosen to author the majority opinion for each panel in a particular case.

The Kentucky Court of Appeals hears appeals from the Kentucky Circuit Courts, with the exception of criminal cases involving sentences of death, life imprisonment, or imprisonment of twenty years or more, in which appeals are taken directly to the Kentucky Supreme Court. In addition, original actions may be filed with the Kentucky Court of Appeals in certain situations.

Judges

The Kentucky Court of Appeals is composed of 14 judges who serve eight year terms. Two judges are elected from each of the state's seven appellant districts which mirror the seven districts of the Kentucky Supreme Court. The current chief judge is Larry E. Thompson. [4]

List of judges

Current districts of the Court of Appeals. Kentucky Supreme Court Districts.svg
Current districts of the Court of Appeals.

As of August 1,2025:

JudgeDistrict and divisionDate service began
Larry E. Thompson, Chief Judge7th District, 2nd Division2019
J. Christopher McNeill, Deputy Chief Judge1st District, 1st Division2020
Lisa P. Jones1st District, 2nd Division2024
Jeff S. Taylor2nd District, 1st Division2003
Kelly Mark Easton2nd District, 2nd Division2023
Jacqueline M. Caldwell3rd District, 1st Division2019
James H. Lambert3rd District, 2nd Division2006
Audra Jean Eckerle4th District, 1st Division2023
Annette Karem4th District, 2nd Division2023
Will Moynahan5th District, 1st Division2025
Glenn E. Acree5th District, 2nd Division2006
Allison Jones6th District, 1st Division2013
Susanne M. Cetrulo6th District, 2nd Division2021
Sara Walter Combs 7th District, 1st Division1994

See also

References

  1. ↑ Biven, William E. (1959). "The Historical Development of the Kentucky Courts". Kentucky Law Journal. 47 (4): 467.
  2. ↑ Metzmeier, Kurt (December 1, 2006). "A Constitutional Amendment to Reform Kentucky's Courts". Faculty and Staff Scholarship, University of Louisville.
  3. ↑ "Alumni - Martha Layne Collins". University of Kentucky Alumni Association. Retrieved 2025-09-05.
  4. ↑ Kentucky: Court of Justice – Chief Judge Larry E. Thompson
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