Judicial selection in Kentucky

Judicial selection in Kentucky
Kentucky Supreme Court
Method:	Nonpartisan election
Term:	8 years
Kentucky Court of Appeals
Method:	Nonpartisan election
Term:	8 years
Kentucky Circuit Courts
Method:	Nonpartisan election
Term:	8 years
Kentucky District Courts
Method:	Nonpartisan election
Term:	4 years

Judicial selection refers to the process used to select judges for courts. At the state level, methods of judicial selection vary substantially in the United States, and in some cases between different court types within a state. There are six primary types of judicial selection: partisan and nonpartisan elections, the Michigan method, assisted appointment, gubernatorial appointment, and legislative elections. To read more about how these selection methods are used across the country, click here.

This article covers how state court judges are selected in Kentucky, including:

• Kentucky Supreme Court,
• Kentucky Court of Appeals,
• Kentucky Circuit Courts, and
• Limited jurisdiction courts

As of March 2023, the selection of state court judges in Kentucky occurred through nonpartisan elections. Under the state constitution, elected judges' terms begin on the first Monday in January following their election.

Click here to notify us of changes to judicial selection methods in this state.

Kentucky Supreme Court

See also: Kentucky Supreme Court

The seven justices of the Kentucky Supreme Court are elected to eight-year terms in nonpartisan elections. They must run for re-election if they wish to serve subsequent terms.

Qualifications

To serve on the Kentucky Supreme Court, the judge must be:

“

a citizen of the United States, a resident of both the Commonwealth, and of the district from which he is elected for two years next preceding his taking office, licensed to practice law in the courts of the Commonwealth, and a licensed attorney for at least eight years.

”

Chief justice

The chief justice of the court is chosen by peer vote. He or she serves in that capacity for four years.

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state supreme courts

If a midterm vacancy occurs, the governor appoints a successor from a list of three names provided by the Kentucky Judicial Nominating Commission. If the term the appointee will fill expires at the next election, the appointment is for the remainder of the term. If the term does not expire at the next election and that election is more than three months away, the appointee must stand for election, and the election is for the remainder of the unexpired term. If the term does not expire at the next election, but the election is less than three months away, the appointee must stand for election in the election following the next. The election is for the remainder of the unexpired term, if any; if none of the term is left, the election is for a full term.

The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country.