Kentucky Court of Justice
District Court judges from across Kentucky participate in District Judges College Oct. 18-21 in Frankfort
FRANKFORT, Ky. -- District Court judges from across Kentucky participated in the 2011 Kentucky District Judges College that took place Oct. 18-21 at the Administrative Office of the Courts in Frankfort. The AOC provided the judicial education program for the state’s District Court judges.
The judges received updates on case law and legislation. They also attended sessions on domestic violence, small claims, search and seizure, court technology and changes to the pretrial release process under House Bill 463. HB 463 took effect in June 2011 and is the most comprehensive overhaul of Kentucky’s penal code in more than 30 years. All three branches of government supported the legislation, which is designed to curb the cost of incarceration without compromising public safety.
“House Bill 463 brought about many changes to District Court and this college gave judges another opportunity to discuss how we’re implementing this legislation,” said Nelson County District Court Judge Robert W. Heaton, the newly elected president of the Kentucky District Judges Association. “We also spent time learning how technology can make our courts more efficient and took an in-depth look at the Fourth Amendment’s provisions regarding search and seizure.”
District Court judges handle juvenile matters, city and county ordinances, misdemeanors, violations, traffic offenses, probate of wills, arraignments, felony probable cause hearings, small claims involving $2,500 or less, civil cases involving $5,000 or less, voluntary and involuntary mental commitments and cases relating to domestic violence and abuse. In Fiscal Year 2011, there were 707,459 District Court cases statewide.
Administrative Office of the Courts
The AOC is the operations arm for the state court system and supports the activities of nearly 3,300 court system employees and 403 elected justices, judges and circuit court clerks. The AOC Division of Judicial Branch Education provides continuing education for the elected officials. As the fiscal agent for the state court system, the AOC also executes the Judicial Branch budget.
By county, District Court judges who participated in the college include:
Adair County
District Court Judge Michael Loy (serves Adair and Casey counties)
Allen County
District Court Judge Martha Blair Harrison (serves Allen and Simpson counties)
Anderson County
District Court Judge Linda S. Armstrong (serves Anderson, Shelby and Spencer counties)
District Court Judge Donna G. Dutton (serves Anderson, Shelby and Spencer counties)
Barren County
District Court Judge John T. Alexander (serves Barren and Metcalfe counties)
Bath County
District Court Judge William W. Roberts (serves Bath, Menifee, Montgomery and Rowan counties)
Bell County
Bell County District Court Judge Robert T. Yoakum
Boone County
District Court Judge Charles T. Moore (serves Boone and Gallatin counties)
District Court Judge Jeff Smith (serves Boone and Gallatin counties)
Bourbon County
District Court Judge Vanessa M. Dickson (serves Bourbon, Scott and Woodford counties)
District Court Judge Mary Jane Phelps (serves Bourbon, Scott and Woodford counties)
Boyd County
Boyd County District Court Judge Gerald B. Reams Jr.
Boyd County District Court Judge Scott T. Reese
Boyle County
District Court Judge Jeff L. Dotson (serves Boyle and Mercer counties)
Bracken County
District Court Judge W. Todd Walton II (serves Bracken, Fleming and Mason counties)
Breathitt County
District Court Judge Kenneth R. Profitt (serves Breathitt, Powell and Wolfe counties)
Breckinridge County
District Court Judge Shan F. Embry (serves Breckinridge, Grayson and Meade counties)
District Court Judge Kenneth Harold Goff II (serves Breckinridge, Grayson and Meade counties)
Bullitt County
Bullitt County District Court Judge Jennifer E. Porter
Bullitt County District Court Judge Rebecca S. Ward
Butler County
District Court Judge Renona C. Browning (serves Butler, Edmonson, Hancock and Ohio counties)
District Court Judge John M. McCarty (serves Butler, Edmonson, Hancock and Ohio counties)
Caldwell County
District Court Judge Jill Clark (serves Caldwell, Livingston, Lyon and Trigg counties)
Calloway County
Calloway County District Court Judge Randall A. Hutchens
Campbell County
Campbell County District Court Judge Gregory T. Popovich
Campbell County District Court Judge Karen A. Thomas
Carroll County
District Court Judge Elizabeth A. Chandler (serves Carroll, Grant and Owen counties)
District Court Judge Thomas M. Funk (serves Carroll, Grant and Owen counties)
Carter County
District Court Judge H. Rupert Wilhoit III (serves Carter, Elliott and Morgan counties)
Casey County
District Court Judge Michael Loy (serves Adair and Casey counties)
Christian County
Christian County District Court Judge James G. Adams Jr.
Christian County District Court Judge Arnold B. Lynch
Clark County
District Court Judge Brandy O. Brown (serves Clark and Madison counties)
District Court Judge Charles W. Hardin (serves Clark and Madison counties)
District Court Judge Earl-Ray Neal (serves Clark and Madison counties)
Clay County
District Court Judge Henria Bailey-Lewis (serves Clay, Jackson and Leslie counties)
District Court Judge Renee H. Muncy (serves Clay, Jackson and Leslie counties)
Clinton County
District Court Judge Scarlett B. Latham (serves Clinton, Russell and Wayne counties)
Crittenden County
District Court Judge Daniel M. Heady (serves Crittenden, Union and Webster counties)
Daviess County
Daviess County District Court Judge Daniel M. “Nick” Burlew II
Daviess County District Court Judge Lisa P. Jones
Daviess County District Court Judge David C. Payne
Edmonson County
District Court Judge Renona C. Browning (serves Butler, Edmonson, Hancock and Ohio counties)
District Court Judge John M. McCarty (serves Butler, Edmonson, Hancock and Ohio counties)
Elliott County
District Court Judge H. Rupert Wilhoit III (serves Carter, Elliott and Morgan counties)
Estill County
District Court Judge William “Bo” Leach (serves Estill, Lee and Owsley counties)
Fayette County
Fayette County District Court Judge T. Bruce Bell
Fayette County District Court Judge Julie Muth Goodman
Fayette County District Court Judge Megan Lake Thornton
Fayette County District Court Judge Kim Wilkie
Fleming County
District Court Judge W. Todd Walton II (serves Bracken, Fleming and Mason counties)
Floyd County
Floyd County District Court Judge Eric D. Hall
Franklin County
Franklin County District Court Judge Kathy R. Mangeot
Franklin County District Court Judge Chris Olds
Fulton County
District Court Judge Hunter B. Whitesell II (serves Fulton and Hickman counties)
Gallatin County
District Court Judge Charles T. Moore (serves Boone and Gallatin counties)
District Court Judge Jeff Smith (serves Boone and Gallatin counties)
Garrard County
District Court Judge Bill Oliver (serves Garrard, Jessamine and Lincoln counties)
Grant County
District Court Judge Elizabeth A. Chandler (serves Carroll, Grant and Owen counties)
District Court Judge Thomas M. Funk (serves Carroll, Grant and Owen counties)
Graves County
Graves County District Court Judge Deborah Hawkins Crooks
Grayson County
District Court Judge Shan F. Embry (serves Breckinridge, Grayson and Meade counties)
District Court Judge Kenneth Harold Goff II (serves Breckinridge, Grayson and Meade counties)
Green County
District Court Judge Amy S. Anderson (serves Green, Marion, Taylor and Washington counties)
Greenup County
District Court Judge Brian C. McCloud (serves Greenup and Lewis counties)
Hancock County
District Court Judge Renona C. Browning (serves Butler, Edmonson, Hancock and Ohio counties)
District Court Judge John M. McCarty (serves Butler, Edmonson, Hancock and Ohio counties)
Hardin County
Hardin County District Court Judge Kimberly W. Shumate
Hardin County District Court Judge John D. Simcoe
Harlan County
Harlan County District Court Judge Jeffrey J. Brock
Harrison County
District Court Judge Charles W. Kuster (serves Harrison, Nicholas, Pendleton and Robertson counties)
Hart County
District Court Judge C. Derek Reed (serves Hart and LaRue counties)
Henderson County
Henderson County District Court Judge Charles R. McCollom III
Henderson County District Court Judge Robert K. Wiederstein
Henry County
District Court Judge Jerry D. Crosby (serves Henry, Oldham and Trimble counties)
Hickman County
District Court Judge Hunter B. Whitesell II (serves Fulton and Hickman counties)
Hopkins County
Hopkins County District Court Judge W. Logan Calvert
Hopkins County District Court Judge William R. Whitledge
Jackson County
District Court Judge Henria Bailey-Lewis (serves Clay, Jackson and Leslie counties)
District Court Judge Renee H. Muncy (serves Clay, Jackson and Leslie counties)
Jefferson County
Jefferson District Court Judge Donald E. Armstrong Jr.
Jefferson District Judge Angela McCormick Bisig
Jefferson District Judge David P. Bowles
Jefferson District Judge Stephanie Burke
Jefferson District Judge Gina Kay Calvert
Jefferson District Judge Sheila A. Collins
Jefferson District Judge Sean R. Delahanty
Jefferson District Judge Anne Haynie
Jefferson District Judge David L. Holton II
Jefferson District Judge Annette Karem
Jefferson District Judge Katie King
Jefferson District Judge Deana “Dee” McDonald
Jefferson District Judge Sandra L. McLaughlin
Jefferson District Judge Ann Bailey Smith
Jefferson District Judge Michele B. Stengel
Jefferson District Judge Jennifer Bryant Wilcox
Jessamine County
District Court Judge Bill Oliver (serves Garrard, Jessamine and Lincoln counties)
Johnson County
District Court Judge John Kevin Holbrook (serves Johnson, Lawrence and Martin counties)
District Court Judge Susan M. Johnson (serves Johnson, Lawrence and Martin counties)
Kenton County
Kenton County District Court Judge Kenneth L. Easterling
Kenton County District Court Judge Douglas J. Grothaus
Kenton County District Court Judge Ann Ruttle
Knott County
District Court Judge Dennis B. Prater (serves Knott and Magoffin counties)
Knox County
District Court Judge John Paul Chappell (serves Knox and Laurel counties)
LaRue County
District Court Judge C. Derek Reed (serves Hart and LaRue counties)
Laurel County
District Court Judge John Paul Chappell (serves Knox and Laurel counties)
Lawrence County
District Court Judge John Kevin Holbrook (serves Johnson, Lawrence and Martin counties)
District Court Judge Susan M. Johnson (serves Johnson, Lawrence and Martin counties)
Lee County
District Court Judge William “Bo” Leach (serves Estill, Lee and Owsley counties)
Leslie County
District Court Judge Henria Bailey-Lewis (serves Clay, Jackson and Leslie counties)
District Court Judge Renee H. Muncy (serves Clay, Jackson and Leslie counties)
Lewis County
District Court Judge Brian C. McCloud (serves Greenup and Lewis counties)
Lincoln County
District Court Judge Bill Oliver (serves Garrard, Jessamine and Lincoln counties)
Livingston County
District Court Judge Jill Clark (serves Caldwell, Livingston, Lyon and Trigg counties)
Logan County
District Court Judge Sue Carol Browning (serves Logan and Todd counties)
Lyon County
District Court Judge Jill Clark (serves Caldwell, Livingston, Lyon and Trigg counties)
Madison County
District Court Judge Brandy O. Brown (serves Clark and Madison counties)
District Court Judge Charles W. Hardin (serves Clark and Madison counties)
District Court Judge Earl-Ray Neal (serves Clark and Madison counties)
Magoffin County
District Court Judge Dennis B. Prater (serves Knott and Magoffin counties)
Marion County
District Court Judge Amy S. Anderson (serves Green, Marion, Taylor and Washington counties)
Martin County
District Court Judge John Kevin Holbrook (serves Johnson, Lawrence and Martin counties)
District Court Judge Susan M. Johnson (serves Johnson, Lawrence and Martin counties)
Mason County
District Court Judge W. Todd Walton II (serves Bracken, Fleming and Mason counties)
McCreary County
District Court Judge Cathy E. Prewitt (serves McCreary and Whitley counties)
McLean County
District Court Judge Brian Crick (serves McLean and Muhlenberg counties)
Meade County
District Court Judge Shan F. Embry (serves Breckinridge, Grayson and Meade counties)
District Court Judge Kenneth Harold Goff II (serves Breckinridge, Grayson and Meade counties)
Menifee County
District Court Judge William W. Roberts (serves Bath, Menifee, Montgomery and Rowan counties)
Mercer County
District Court Judge Jeff L. Dotson (serves Boyle and Mercer counties)
Metcalfe County
District Court Judge John T. Alexander (serves Barren and Metcalfe counties)
Montgomery County
District Court Judge William W. Roberts (serves Bath, Menifee, Montgomery and Rowan counties)
Morgan County
District Court Judge H. Rupert Wilhoit III (serves Carter, Elliott and Morgan counties)
Muhlenberg County
District Court Judge Brian Crick (serves McLean and Muhlenberg counties)
Nelson County
Nelson County District Court Judge Robert W. Heaton
Nicholas County
District Court Judge Charles W. Kuster (serves Harrison, Nicholas, Pendleton and Robertson counties)
Ohio County
District Court Judge Renona C. Browning (serves Butler, Edmonson, Hancock and Ohio counties)
District Court Judge John M. McCarty (serves Butler, Edmonson, Hancock and Ohio counties)
Oldham County
District Court Judge Jerry D. Crosby (serves Henry, Oldham and Trimble counties)
Owen County
District Court Judge Elizabeth A. Chandler (serves Carroll, Grant and Owen counties)
District Court Judge Thomas M. Funk (serves Carroll, Grant and Owen counties)
Owsley County
District Court Judge William “Bo” Leach (serves Estill, Lee and Owsley counties)
Pendleton County
District Court Judge Charles W. Kuster (serves Harrison, Nicholas, Pendleton and Robertson counties)
Perry County
Perry County District Court Judge Leigh Anne Stephens
Pike County
Pike County District Court Judge Kelsey E. Friend
Pike County District Court Judge Darrel H. Mullins
Powell County
District Court Judge Kenneth R. Profitt (serves Breathitt, Powell and Wolfe counties)
Pulaski County
District Court Judge Jeffrey Scott Lawless (serves Pulaski and Rockcastle counties)
District Court Judge Kathryn G. Wood (serves Pulaski and Rockcastle counties)
Robertson County
District Court Judge Charles W. Kuster (serves Harrison, Nicholas, Pendleton and Robertson counties)
Rockcastle County
District Court Judge Jeffrey Scott Lawless (serves Pulaski and Rockcastle counties)
District Court Judge Kathryn G. Wood (serves Pulaski and Rockcastle counties)
Rowan County
District Court Judge William W. Roberts (serves Bath, Menifee, Montgomery and Rowan counties)
Russell County
District Court Judge Scarlett B. Latham (serves Clinton, Russell and Wayne counties)
Scott County
District Court Judge Vanessa M. Dickson (serves Bourbon, Scott and Woodford counties)
District Court Judge Mary Jane Phelps (serves Bourbon, Scott and Woodford counties)
Shelby County
District Court Judge Linda S. Armstrong (serves Anderson, Shelby and Spencer counties)
District Court Judge Donna G. Dutton (serves Anderson, Shelby and Spencer counties)
Simpson County
District Court Judge Martha Blair Harrison (serves Allen and Simpson counties)
Spencer County
District Court Judge Linda S. Armstrong (serves Anderson, Shelby and Spencer counties)
District Court Judge Donna G. Dutton (serves Anderson, Shelby and Spencer counties)
Taylor County
District Court Judge Amy S. Anderson (serves Green, Marion, Taylor and Washington counties)
Todd County
District Court Judge Sue Carol Browning (serves Logan and Todd counties)
Trigg County
District Court Judge Jill Clark (serves Caldwell, Livingston, Lyon and Trigg counties)
Trimble County
District Court Judge Jerry D. Crosby (serves Henry, Oldham and Trimble counties)
Union County
District Court Judge Daniel M. Heady (serves Crittenden, Union and Webster counties)
Warren County
Warren County District Court Judge John B. Brown
Warren County District Court Judge Brent J. Potter
Warren County District Court Judge Sam Potter Jr.
Washington County
District Court Judge Amy S. Anderson (serves Green, Marion, Taylor and Washington counties)
Wayne County
District Court Judge Scarlett B. Latham (serves Clinton, Russell and Wayne counties)
Webster County
District Court Judge Daniel M. Heady (serves Crittenden, Union and Webster counties)
Whitley County
District Court Judge Cathy E. Prewitt (serves McCreary and Whitley counties)
Wolfe County
District Court Judge Kenneth R. Profitt (serves Breathitt, Powell and Wolfe counties)
Woodford County
District Court Judge Vanessa M. Dickson (serves Bourbon, Scott and Woodford counties)
District Court Judge Mary Jane Phelps (serves Bourbon, Scott and Woodford counties)