Kentucky Court of Appeals

History

Similar to the federal constitution, Kentucky's first constitution directly established the state's highest court while delegating the authority to establish lower courts to the legislature.

The Kentucky Court of Appeals remained the highest court in the state until 1975 when a constitutional amendment was passed by ballot referendum to reorganize reorganize Kentucky's judicial system. The Kentucky Supreme Court was formed and made the new highest court of the state while the Court of Appeals became the state's intermediate court on January 1, 1976.

In addition, the amendment made all judicial election's nonpartisan and abolished the office of Clerk of the Court of Appeals as a statewide elected constitutional office. The clerkship was the first elected office held by future governor Martha Layne Collins, who defeated future Kentucky Chief Justice Joseph Lambert in 1975. Collins was the last individual to be elected clerk, and subsequently the first to serve as clerk of the Kentucky Supreme Court.

Function

The Kentucky Court of Appeals has a headquarters building and courtroom in Frankfort. Unlike the Kentucky Supreme Court however, the three-judge panels of the Kentucky Court of Appeals frequently hear cases in courthouses all over Kentucky.

The chief judge assigns judges and cases to panels. Membership of the panels rotate so that all judges sit on at least one panel with each of their colleagues in any given year. Usually one judge is chosen to author the majority opinion for each panel in a particular case.

The Kentucky Court of Appeals hears appeals from the Kentucky Circuit Courts, with the exception of criminal cases involving sentences of death, life imprisonment, or imprisonment of twenty years or more, in which appeals are taken directly to the Kentucky Supreme Court. In addition, original actions may be filed with the Kentucky Court of Appeals in certain situations.

Judges

The Kentucky Court of Appeals is composed of 14 judges who serve eight year terms. Two judges are elected from each of the state's seven appellant districts which mirror the seven districts of the Kentucky Supreme Court. The current chief judge is Larry E. Thompson.

List of judges

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References

References

1. Biven, William E.. (1959). "The Historical Development of the Kentucky Courts". Kentucky Law Journal.
2. Metzmeier, Kurt. (December 1, 2006). "A Constitutional Amendment to Reform Kentucky's Courts". Faculty and Staff Scholarship, University of Louisville.
3. "Alumni - Martha Layne Collins".
4. [https://www.kycourts.gov/Courts/Court-of-Appeals/Pages/7th-Appellate-District-Division-2.aspx Kentucky: Court of Justice – Chief Judge Larry E. Thompson]