Kentucky Court of Justice
Supreme Court Justice Will T. Scott presents keynote address for 2007 Law Day ceremony

Supreme Court Deputy Chief Justice Will T. Scott encouraged 149 new attorneys to carry out their work with courage at the annual Law Day ceremony May 1 at the Capitol.
“It's not the number of times you fall down in life that counts – it's the number of times you get up!" said Justice Scott, who gave the keynote address for Law Day. "In my lifetime I’ve seen a lot of young lawyers who were so afraid of making mistakes they were afraid to try. If you’re going to be successful in life you have to try and at times you will fail, but if you're not afraid of falling down, you will be successful and that’s living. It falls to you now to help define our world’s ever-changing shape, speed and boundaries. You will do this with your skills, with your humanity, at times with your courage, but always with your integrity." (The full text of his speech is at www.courts.ky.gov under News of Interest.)

The Kentucky Court of Justice celebrates the legal profession each year during Law Day by installing new attorneys and presenting the Law Related Education Award of Achievement to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to educating youth about the law, the legal process and the principles of our constitutional democracy.

Justice Scott was elected in 2004 to represent the 7th Supreme Court District, which consists of 22 counties in Eastern Kentucky. In July 2006, he was appointed Deputy Chief Justice by Chief Justice Joseph E. Lambert. Justice Scott’s home chambers are in Pikeville. He is a Pike County native who graduated from Pikeville College and then earned a law degree and a master's degree in taxation law from the University of Miami in Florida. Before joining the Supreme Court of Kentucky, he had practiced law for more than 30 years as a circuit judge, trial attorney and assistant commonwealth's attorney. He is a decorated veteran of the U.S. Army, having served in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969.

The Supreme Court is the state court of last resort and the final interpreter of Kentucky law. Seven justices sit on the Supreme Court and all seven rule on appeals that come before the court. The justices are elected from seven appellate districts and serve eight-year terms. The Supreme Court may order a ruling or opinion to be published, which means that the ruling becomes the case law governing all similar cases in the future in Kentucky.

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Note: The 7th Supreme Court District is comprised of Boyd, Breathitt, Carter, Elliott, Floyd, Greenup, Harlan, Johnson, Knott, Lawrence, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, Owsley, Perry, Pike, Powell, Rowan and Wolfe counties.