FRANKFORT, Ky., Aug. 4, 2021 – Kentucky District Court judges gathered for the first time in person in more than a year for their annual college June 6-9 in Lexington. The judges were last together for their 2019 college, with the 2020 event being canceled due to COVID-19.
“It was refreshing to be able to meet in person once again,” said Christian County District Court Judge J. Foster Cotthoff, who is president of the Kentucky District Judges Association. “Our colleges not only provide valuable educational programs, but they also give us the opportunity to spend time with people who share the challenges and rewards of serving as a judge. We all enjoyed this renewed camaraderie.”
The 2021 college focused on giving district judges greater insight on how to handle drunk and drugged driving cases.
“Because district judges see a lot of DUI cases, it was helpful for us to look closely at issues surrounding these cases, including the skills that law enforcement officers use to detect drivers who are under the influence,” Judge Cotthoff said. “This was a great refresher course for experienced judges and an important introduction for newer judges.”
DUI sessions at the college were on testimony from expert witnesses in impaired driving cases and how the effects of drugs and alcohol impair a person’s ability to drive.
Another session covered Kentucky Senate Bill 85, legislation signed into law in 2020 that requires first-time DUI offenders to use an ignition interlock device or face a longer license suspension. The law is intended to prevent offenders from ignoring their license suspension by driving anyway. Previously, the device was mandatory for repeat DUI offenders and those with a blood alcohol content of .15 or more.
Judges also attended a session about using the ALIVE at 25 defensive driving course as a court-ordered diversion program for drivers 16-24 years old who have been charged with a traffic offense.
Judges were able to earn continuing judicial education credits at the college, which was hosted by the Education Committee of the Kentucky District Judges Association and the Division of Education Services at the Administrative Office of the Courts.
District Court
District Court judges handle juvenile matters, city and county ordinances, misdemeanors, violations, traffic offenses, probate of wills, arraignments, felony probable cause hearings, small claims involving $2,500 or less, civil cases involving $5,000 or less, voluntary and involuntary mental commitments and cases relating to domestic violence and abuse.
Administrative Office of the Courts
The AOC is the operations arm for the state court system and supports the activities of nearly 3,300 employees and 406 elected justices, judges and circuit court clerks. The AOC also executes the Judicial Branch budget.
By counties in each judicial district, District Court judges who attended the college include:
Adair and Casey counties
District Court Judge Michael Loy
Allen and Simpson counties
District Court Judge Martha Blair Harrison
Anderson, Shelby and Spencer counties
District Court Judge Linda Dixon Bullock
Ballard and Carlisle counties
District Court Judge Mark Stephen Medlin
Barren and Metcalfe counties
District Court Judge J. Gabriel Pendleton
Boone and Gallatin counties
District Court Judge Jeffrey S. Smith
District Court Judge Marcia L. Thomas
Bourbon, Scott and Woodford counties
District Court Judge Sarah R. Hays
District Court Judge Mary Jane Phelps
Boyd County
Boyd County District Court Judge Gerald B. Reams Jr.
Boyle and Mercer counties
District Court Judge Jeff L. Dotson
Bracken, Fleming and Mason counties
District Court Judge Kim Razor
Breckinridge, Grayson and Meade counties
District Court Judge Steven R. Crebessa
Butler, Edmonson, Hancock and Ohio counties
District Court Judge John M. McCarty
Caldwell, Livingston, Lyon and Trigg counties
District Court Judge James R. Redd III
District Court Judge Natalie White
Campbell County
Campbell County District Court Judge Karen A. Thomas
Carter, Elliott and Morgan counties
District Court Judge H. Rupert Wilhoit III
Christian County
Christian County District Court Judge J. Foster Cotthoff
Clark and Madison counties
District Court Judge Charles W. Hardin
District Court Judge Earl-Ray Neal
Clay, Jackson and Leslie counties
District Court Judge Allen B. Roberts
Daviess County
Daviess County District Court Judge David C. Payne
Estill, Lee and Owsley counties
District Court Judge William “Bo” Leach
Fayette County
Fayette County District Court Judge Melissa Moore Murphy
Fayette County District Court Judge John Lindsay Tackett
Fayette County District Court Judge Lindsay Hughes Thurston
Floyd County
Floyd County District Court Judge Eric D. Hall
Floyd County District Court Judge Jimmy R. Marcum
Garrard, Jessamine and Lincoln counties
District Court Judge Janet C. Booth
District Court Judge Bill Oliver
Green, Marion, Taylor and Washington counties
District Court Judge Amy S. Anderson
District Court Judge Mike Hall Jr.
Hardin County
Hardin County District Court Judge Deborah Lewis Shaw
Hardin County District Court Judge Kimberly W. Shumate
Harrison, Nicholas, Pendleton and Robertson counties
District Court Judge Charles W. Kuster Jr.
Henderson County
Henderson County District Court Judge Jill Brady
Henderson County District Court Judge Leslie M. Newman
Henry, Oldham and Trimble counties
District Court Judge Jerry D. Crosby II (now a Circuit Court judge for these counties)
District Court Judge Brittany B. McKenna
District Court Judge Diana E. Wheeler
Hopkins County
Hopkins County District Court Judge William R. Whitledge
Jefferson County
Jefferson District Court Judge David P. Bowles
Jefferson District Court Judge Stephanie Pearce Burke
Jefferson District Court Judge Kristina Garvey
Jefferson District Court Judge Tanisha A. Hickerson
Jefferson District Court Judge Julie Kaelin
Jefferson District Court Judge Katie King
Jefferson District Court Judge Jessica A. Moore
Johnson, Lawrence and Martin counties
District Court Judge D. Brett Butcher
District Court Judge John T. Chafin
Kenton County
Kenton County District Court Judge Kenneth L. Easterling
Kenton County District Court Judge Douglas J. Grothaus
Kenton County District Court Judge Ann Ruttle
Knott and Magoffin counties
District Court Judge Dennis B. Prater
Letcher County
Letcher County District Court Judge Kevin R. Mullins
Marshall County
Marshall County District Court Judge Jack M. Telle
McCreary and Whitley counties
District Court Judge Cathy E. Prewitt
District Court Judge Fred F. White
McLean and Muhlenberg counties
District Court Judge Brian Crick
Nelson County
Nelson County District Court Judge John S. “Jack” Kelley V
Perry County
Perry County District Court Judge Cody Goehring
Pike County
Pike County District Court Judge Robert F. Wright
Pulaski and Rockcastle counties
District Court Judge Jeffrey Scott Lawless
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