Help us improve in just 2 minutes—share your thoughts in our reader survey.
Chad Meredith
Do you have a photo that could go here? Click here to submit it for this profile!
On June 23, 2025, President Donald Trump (R) nominated Chad Meredith to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky.[1] As of July 30, 2025, Meredith was awaiting a committee vote to advance his nomination to the full U.S. Senate. Click here for more information on Meredith's federal judicial nomination.
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky is one of 94 U.S. District Courts. They are the general trial courts of the United States federal courts. To learn more about the court, click here.
Judicial nominations and appointments
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
- See also: Federal judges nominated by Donald Trump
On June 23, 2025, President Donald Trump (R) nominated Meredith to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky.[1] To read more about the federal nominations process, click here.
 |
| Nominee Information |
| Name: Chad Meredith |
| Court: United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky |
| Progress |
| 80 days since nomination. |
| Questionnaire: Questionnaire |
| Hearing Transcript: Hearing Transcript |
| QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more) |
Senate Judiciary Committee hearing
The Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on Meredith's nomination on July 30, 2025. As of July 30, 2025, Meredith was awaiting a committee vote to advance his nomination to the full U.S. Senate. Click here for a list of other nominees awaiting a committee vote.
Nomination
On June 23, 2025, President Donald Trump (R) nominated Chad Meredith to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky.
Meredith was nominated to replace Judge Danny Reeves, who assumed senior status on February 1, 2025.[2]
The American Bar Association (ABA) rated Meredith well qualified.[3] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.
About the court
The Eastern District of Kentucky has original jurisdiction over cases filed within its jurisdiction. These cases can include civil and criminal matters that fall under federal law.
There are six court divisions, each covering the following counties:
The Ashland Division, covering Boyd, Carter, Elliott, Greenup, Lawrence, Lewis, Morgan, and Rowan counties.
The Covington Division, covering Boone, Bracken, Campbell, Gallatin, Grant, Kenton, Mason, Pendleton, and Robertson counties.
The Frankfort Division, covering Anderson, Carroll, Franklin, Henry, Owen, Shelby, and Trimble counties.
The Lexington Division, covering Bath, Bourbon, Boyle, Breathitt, Clark, Estill, Fayette, Fleming, Garrard, Harrison, Jessamine, Lee, Lincoln, Madison, Menifee, Mercer, Montgomery, Nicholas, Powell, Scott, Wolfe, and Woodford counties.
The London Division, covering Bell, Clay, Harlan, Jackson, Knox, Laurel, Leslie, McCreary, Owsley, Perry, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Wayne, and Whitley counties.
The Pikeville Division, covering Floyd, Johnson, Knott, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, and Pike counties.
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. In addition, at one time, the court also met in Catlettsburg; however, the court left Catlettsburg when the Carl D. Perkins Federal Building and United States Courthouse in Ashland was completed.
To read opinions published by this court, click here.
The federal nomination process
Federal judges are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. There are multiple steps to the process:
- The president nominates an individual for a judicial seat.
- The nominee fills out a questionnaire and is reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
- The Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing with the nominee, questioning them about things like their judicial philosophy, past rulings or opinions, etc.
- As part of this process, the committee sends a blue slip to senators from the home state in which the judicial nomination was received, allowing them to express their approval or disapproval of the nominee.
- After the hearing, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote to approve or return the nominee.
- If approved, the nominee is voted on by the full Senate.
- If the Committee votes to return the nominee to the president, the president has the opportunity to re-nominate the individual.
- The Senate holds a vote on the candidate.
- If the Senate confirms the nomination, the nominee receives a commission to serve a lifelong position as a federal judge.
- If the Senate does not confirm the nomination, that nominee does not become a judge.
See also
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
- United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit
External links
Footnotes
Federal courts:
Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Kentucky, Western District of Kentucky • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Kentucky, Western District of Kentucky
State courts:
Kentucky Supreme Court • Kentucky Court of Appeals • Kentucky Circuit Courts • Kentucky District Courts • Kentucky Family Court
State resources:
Courts in Kentucky • Kentucky judicial elections • Judicial selection in Kentucky