United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky

Jurisdiction

The Eastern District of Kentucky encompasses the following counties: Anderson, Bath, Bell, Boone, Bourbon, Boyd, Boyle, Bracken, Breathitt, Campbell, Carroll, Carter, Clark, Clay, Elliott, Estill, Fayette, Fleming, Floyd, Franklin, Gallatin, Garrard, Grant, Greenup, Harlan, Harrison, Henry, Jackson, Jessamine, Johnson, Kenton, Knott, Knox, Laurel, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Lewis, Lincoln, McCreary, Madison, Magoffin, Martin, Mason, Menifee, Mercer, Montgomery, Morgan, Nicholas, Owen, Owsley, Pendleton, Perry, Pike, Powell, Pulaski, Robertson, Rockcastle, Rowan, Scott, Shelby, Trimble, Wayne, Whitley, Wolfe, and Woodford.

History

The United States District Court for the District of Kentucky was one of the original 13 courts established by the Judiciary Act of 1789, , on September 24, 1789. At the time, Kentucky was not yet a state, but was within the territory of the state of Virginia. The District was unchanged when Kentucky became a state on June 1, 1792. On February 13, 1801, the Judiciary Act of 1801, , abolished the U.S. district court in Kentucky, but the repeal of this Act restored the District on March 8, 1802, . The District was subdivided into Eastern and Western Districts on February 12, 1901, by .

Meeting places

The court is based in Lexington and also holds sessions in Federal Courthouses in Ashland, Covington, Frankfort, London and Pikeville. The court also meets in Richmond and Jackson. From 1911 to 1985, the court held sessions in downtown Catlettsburg at the Federal Courthouse and Post Office building which still stands on the corner of 25th and Broadway. By 1980, the Eastern District had long outgrown the historic Catlettsburg facility and it was decided that a new facility should be constructed. City officials in neighboring Ashland requested that the new facility be located there instead of in Catlettsburg. They argued that Ashland, by being a larger city, was a superior choice to the much smaller Catlettsburg with more services and amenities such as lodging for overnight guests and better restaurant options. As a result, the Carl D. Perkins Federal Building and United States Courthouse was built in Ashland on U.S. Routes 23 and 60 (Greenup Avenue).

U.S. Attorney

The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky represents the United States in civil and criminal litigation in the court. The Acting United States attorney is currently Paul McCaffrey.

• James H. Tinsley 1901–09

• James N. Sharp 1909–11

• Edwin P. Morrow 1911–14

• Thomas D. Slattery 1914–21

• Sawyer A. Smith 1921–33

• Mac Swinford 1933–37

• John T. Metcalf 1937–44

• Claude P. Stephens 1944–53

• Edwin R. Denney 1953–55

• Henry J. Cook 1955–60

• Jean L. Auxier 1960–61

• Bernard T. Moynahan Jr. 1961–63

• George I. Cline 1963–70

• Eugene E. Siler Jr. 1970–75

• Eldon L. Webb 1975–77

• Patrick J. Molloy 1977–81

• Joseph L. Famularo 1981

• Louis DeFalaise 1981–91

• Karen K. Caldwell 1991–93

• Joseph L. Famularo 1993–2001

• Gregory F. Van Tatenhove 2001–2005

• Amul Thapar 2006–2008

• James A. Zerhusen 2008–2010

• E.J Walbourn 2010

• Kerry B. Harvey 2010–2017

• Robert M. Duncan Jr. 2017–2021

• Carlton S. Shier, IV 2021–2025

• Paul McCaffrey (acting) 2025–present

Current judges

: T. RooseveltJudge Cochran was nominated by President McKinley but was appointed to the Court by (i.e., received his commission from) President Roosevelt.

Chief judges

Succession of seats

References

References

1. Asbury Dickens, ''A Synoptical Index to the Laws and Treaties of the United States of America'' (1852), p. 391.
2. [https://www.fjc.gov/history/courts/u.s.-district-courts-districts-kentucky-legislative-history U.S. District Courts of Kentucky, Legislative history], ''[[Federal Judicial Center]]''.
3. (2014-11-13). "Eastern District of Kentucky {{!}} Eastern District of Kentucky".
4. "The Political Graveyard: U.S. District Attorneys in Kentucky".
5. (2002-12-09). "Former US Attorney Joe Famularo Dies".
6. (2010-03-28). "Kentucky U.S. Attorney Jim Zerhusen Steps Down – Tickle The Wire".