FRANKFORT, Ky., Jan. 21, 2021 – The Judicial Nominating Commission, led by Chief Justice of Kentucky John D. Minton Jr., today announced nominees to fill a judicial vacancy in the 10th Judicial Circuit of Hart, LaRue and Nelson counties. The vacancy is in the circuit’s Division 2.
The three nominees for the judgeship are attorneys Joseph “Joe” Guinan Ballard, Audrey Leeann Haydon and Arch Cox McKay, III, all of Bardstown.
Ballard serves as an assistant commonwealth’s attorney for the 10th Circuit and practices with the law firm of Geoghegan & Associates. He received his juris doctor from the University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law.
Haydon serves as the city attorney for Bardstown and practices with the law firm of Haydon Law. She received her juris doctor from American University Washington College of Law.
McKay serves as an assistant commonwealth’s attorney for the 10th Circuit and practices with the law firm of Geoghegan & Associates. He received his juris doctor from the University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law.
The judicial seat became vacant when Judge John David “Jack” Seay retired Oct. 31.
Circuit Court
Circuit Court is the court of general jurisdiction that hears civil matters involving more than $5,000, capital offenses and felonies, divorces, adoptions, termination of parental rights, land dispute title cases and contested probate cases. In counties with a Family Court division of Circuit Court, Family Court judges have primary jurisdiction in cases involving family issues, including divorces, adoption, child support, domestic violence and juvenile status offenses.
Judicial Nominating Commission
The Judicial Nominating Commission helps fill judicial vacancies by appointment when a vacancy occurs outside of the election cycle. The Kentucky Constitution established the JNC. Ky. Const. § 118; SCR 6.000, et seq.
Judicial Nominating Process
When a judicial vacancy occurs, the executive secretary of the JNC publishes a notice of vacancy in the judicial circuit or the judicial district affected. Attorneys may recommend someone or nominate themselves. The names of the applicants are not released. Once nominations occur, the individuals interested in the position return a questionnaire to the Office of the Chief Justice. Chief Justice Minton then meets with the Judicial Nominating Commission to choose three nominees. Because the Kentucky Constitution requires that three names be submitted to the governor, in some cases the commission submits an attorney’s name even though the attorney did not apply. A letter naming the three nominees is sent to the governor for review. The governor has 60 days to appoint a replacement and his office makes the announcement.
Makeup of the Judicial Nominating Commission
The commission has seven members. The membership is comprised of the chief justice of Kentucky (who also serves as chair), two lawyers elected by all the lawyers in their circuit/district and four Kentucky citizens who are appointed by the governor. The four citizens appointed by the governor must equally represent the two major political parties, so two must be Democrats and two must be Republicans. It is the responsibility of the commission to submit a list of three names to the governor and the governor must appoint a judge from this list of three.
Administrative Office of the Courts
The Administrative Office of the Courts in Frankfort is the operations arm for the state court system. The AOC supports the activities of nearly 3,400 court system employees and 406 elected justices, judges and circuit court clerks. As the fiscal agent for the state court system, the AOC executes the Judicial Branch budget.