Kentucky Court of Justice
Chief Justice Lambert names District Judge Mary Jane Phelps to statewide Court Facilities Standards Committee

FRANKFORT, Ky., Oct. 4, 2005 ¾ Chief Justice Joseph E. Lambert has appointed District Judge Mary Jane Phelps to the Court Facilities Standards Committee which reviews design plans, cost estimates and financing proposals for new court facilities statewide. Judge Phelps will serve a four-year term beginning immediately.

Judge Phelps was elected in 1998 as a district judge for Bourbon, Scott and Woodford counties. She is also serving her third term as vice chief regional district judge of the Bluegrass Region, which includes Bourbon, Boyle, Clark, Estill, Franklin, Garrard, Jessamine, Lee, Lincoln, Madison, Mercer, Owsley, Scott and Woodford counties. She resides in Versailles with her husband, Wes, and two children, Laura Jane and Christopher.

"I am pleased that Chief Justice Lambert placed me in this responsible position," Judge Phelps said. "I look forward to working with the other committee members and the AOC court facilities staff on future projects."

The Court Facilities Standards Committee operates under the auspices of the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) in Frankfort, which is the operational arm of the Kentucky Court of Justice. The AOC Department of Facilities oversees court facility construction, renovation and maintenance throughout the Commonwealth. Rep. Gross Clay Lindsay chairs the 10-member committee.

"This committee's oversight is instrumental to the design and construction of judicial facilities," said Garlan VanHook, general manager of the AOC Department of Facilities. "The members are charged with ensuring the projects are developed in the best interests of the courts and the communities they will serve."

VanHook said he expects the committee to begin renewed activity after completing the 20 court facilities that were authorized during the 2000 General Assembly. "We plan to dedicate the last of the 2000 projects by spring 2006," said VanHook. "We are very excited to begin planning for 18 new projects in counties that badly need updated facilities. The 2005 General Assembly authorized 14 new Judicial Centers and four additions to existing buildings at a total cost of over $200 million."