Kentucky State Supreme Court Justice, District 5
One of seven judges who serves on the highest court in the Commonwealth of Kentucky
Full office description
- The Kentucky Supreme Court has seven justices and serves as the final authority on the Kentucky constitution and appeals within the state.
- It handles all civil, criminal, and state-related cases, including reviewing issues like life imprisonment and death penalty matters.
- Decisions are made collectively by majority vote, and a justice writes the majority opinion.
- The justices elect a Chief Justice who serves as the administrative head of the state's court system, serving a four-year term.
- Justices are elected for eight-year terms in nonpartisan elections from seven districts. Vacancies can be filled by the governor's appointment, with staggered elections ensuring that only some justices are elected each year.
- Justices earn $170,049 annually.
How this impacts you
Public Safety — Decisions reached by the Kentucky Supreme Court can affect citizens across the entire state. For example, the Kentucky Supreme Court previously ruled that universities and colleges in the state cannot enforce bans on guns stored in vehicles.
Criminal Justice — For someone on death row who may have been wrongfully convicted, the Kentucky Supreme Court would be this person’s last resort in Kentucky to have their conviction overturned.
Public Health — Kentucky Supreme Court rulings may impact your health as well. In 2023, a Kentucky Supreme Court ruling allowed Kentucky's abortion ban to remain in place.
