Supreme Court to hear arguments May 16-18 in Frankfort

The Supreme Court will convene Wednesday-Friday, May 16-18, in Frankfort to hear oral arguments in cases that originated in Boone, Harlan, Fayette, Franklin, Graves, Jefferson, Lawrence, McCracken, Meade and Pike counties. Proceedings are open and will take place at 9, 10 and 11 a.m. EDT each day in the Supreme Court Courtroom. The courtroom is located on the second floor of the state Capitol at 700 Capitol Ave.

Court of Appeals to hear arguments on five days in May

The Court of Appeals will hear cases from Jefferson and McCracken counties May 1 in Shepherdsville, cases from Knox and Pike counties May 15 in Louisville, cases from Jefferson and Spencer counties May 21 in Louisville, cases from Kenton, Owen and Pike counties May 23 in Frankfort and cases from Simpson and Warren counties May 24 in Mayfield. See the oral argument schedule for more information.

Chief Justice Minton announces Judicial Branch Budget Reduction Plan for FY 2013

Judicial Branch employees learned May 2, 2012, that they will be furloughed for three days in the first half of Fiscal Year 2013 as a result of deep cuts the Kentucky General Assembly made to the court system’s budget for Fiscal Years 2013 and 2014. The furloughs will close courthouses statewide on Aug. 6, Sept. 4 and Oct. 15, 2012. Furloughs are one of several measures included in the Judicial Branch’s budget reduction plan for FY 2013. Chief Justice of Kentucky John D. Minton Jr. announced details of the plan in an email to all Kentucky Court of Justice personnel.

Chief Justice Minton focuses on funding crisis for state courts in Law Day speech

Chief Justice John D. Minton Jr. discussed the funding crisis for state courts in Kentucky and nationwide in his remarks at the Kentucky Law Day celebration May 2 at the Capitol in Frankfort. The national theme of Law Day 2012 was No Courts, No Justice, No Freedom. “We have all learned to be resourceful and to live within our means, to change, to evolve and to reengineer, but state courts are running out of options for dealing with The Great Recession,” Chief Justice Minton said. “The underfunding of state courts impacts not only the prompt and fair resolution of disputes, but also public safety, the economy and our very system of government.” The Law Day celebration took place in the chambers of the House of Representatives. Former Alabama Supreme Court Justice Sue Bell Cobb was the keynote speaker. The event included a swearing-in ceremony for 146 new attorneys.

Chief Justice Minton's full remarks (59KB-PDF)

Gov. Beshear appoints Judge Maze to Court of Appeals judgeship for Jefferson County

Gov. Steve Beshear announced April 27 his appointment of Judge Irvin G. Maze to fill the vacant Court of Appeals judgeship that represents Jefferson County. He has served as a Jefferson Circuit Court judge since 2008. Judge Maze received his juris doctor from the University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law. The judicial vacancy was created by the resignation of Judge Thomas B. Wine.