FRANKFORT, Ky., May 16, 2022 – The public is invited to a dedication ceremony for the Nicholas County Judicial Center on Thursday, May 19. The event will take place at 10 a.m. ET at the judicial center at 217 N. Broadway St. in Carlisle.
“Since the early days of the commonwealth, Kentucky courthouses have held a special place as the center of our communities,” Chief Justice of Kentucky John D. Minton Jr. said. “The updated Nicholas County Judicial Center will provide an efficient facility where citizens can carry out court business and seek access to justice. I appreciate the county leaders and state legislators who joined the Judicial Branch in making this project a reality.”
The new judicial center opened in early December and consists of 30,002 square feet. The facility houses Circuit Court, Family Court, District Court, the Office of Circuit Court Clerk and ancillary services. The Kentucky General Assembly authorized the Nicholas County project in 2013 and approved its funding in 2014. The total cost of the project was $13 million.
Court business previously took place in the historic Nicholas County Courthouse at 125 E. Main St. The courthouse still houses county offices.
Chief Justice Minton and Nicholas County Judge-Executive Steve Hamilton will be among the speakers at the dedication ceremony. State legislators, Court of Appeals judges, circuit and district judges, county magistrates, other local officials and AOC staff are also expected to attend.
The facility is designed to greatly enhance the delivery of court services. It is equipped with the latest computer, video and networking technology. The judicial center also provides the highest level of Kentucky court security through a single-point entry with magnetometers and security personnel. In addition, prisoners will be segregated from the public by separate entrances and corridors.
The Nicholas County Judicial Center was designed to meet the standards required by the Administrative Office of the Courts. Brandstetter Carroll of Lexington designed the facility and Trace Creek Construction of Vanceburg was the construction manager for the project. Ross, Sinclaire & Associates, which serves Kentucky and nine other states, is the financial agent.
The AOC oversees the construction and maintenance of court facilities statewide as the administrative and fiscal agent for the state court system. The AOC also supports the activities of nearly 3,300 Kentucky Court of Justice employees and 406 elected justices, judges and circuit court clerks.
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