FRANKFORT, Ky., July 28, 2004 -- Judge Laurance B. VanMeter has been elected to represent the Kentucky Court of Appeals on the state's Judicial Ethics Committee.
 
"Judge VanMeter is well suited for this new role," said Joseph E. Lambert, chief justice of Kentucky. "I’m pleased the Kentucky Court of Appeals has selected him for this very important position."

Judge VanMeter, who serves the 5th Appellate District, was elected to the Court of Appeals in November 2003. He previously served Fayette County as both a district and circuit judge, and has practiced law with the Lexington, Ky., firm of Stoll, Keenon & Park. He is a native of Winchester, Ky., and holds a law degree from the University of Kentucky and a bachelor's degree from Vanderbilt University in Nashville.

"Judge VanMeter's commitment to maintaining and promoting high ethical standards for Kentucky judges will be of great benefit to the JEC," said Circuit Judge James L. Bowling, who serves as chair of the Judicial Ethics Committee.

The Judicial Ethics Committee consists of three judges and two attorneys. In addition to Judges Bowling and VanMeter, the committee is composed of Uhel O. Barrickman, a Glasgow attorney; Judge Mike W. Harrod, vice chief regional district judge for Anderson, Shelby and Spencer counties; and Arnold Taylor, a Covington attorney. Jean Collier, senior staff attorney with the State Law Library, serves as executive secretary for the committee.

The Judicial Ethics Committee serves in an advisory capacity by giving judges and judicial candidates guidance on prospective conduct. The committee responds to inquiries regarding a variety of matters, including permissible campaign conduct, when disqualification from a case is necessary, and other possible conflicts of interest in financial and personal matters. The judges are elected by their peers from the Court of Appeals, Circuit Court and District Court, and the attorney members are appointed by the Kentucky Bar Association’s Board of Governors.

The committee issues formal opinions only for matters of statewide importance. Recent published opinions can be found online at www.kycourts.net (click on Administrative Office of the Courts, State Law Library and Judicial Ethics Opinions), while opinions going back to 1978 are housed in the Capitol Building in Frankfort.