2026 Kentucky General Election

Judge VanMeter was raised in Bourbon County and held her first job in the eighth grade, student teaching at the Town and Village School of Dance where she began studying dance at the age of three. She graduated with honors from DePauw University and cum laude from University of Kentucky College of Law.

VanMeter files for Kentucky Court of Appeals

Lucy Ferguson VanMETER was raised in Bourbon County. She graduated with honors from DePauw University and cum laude from the University of Kentucky College of Law.

The $649,000 judges' race nobody is watching - Forward Kentucky

Lucy Ferguson VanMeter was raised in Bourbon County. She graduated with honors from DePauw University and cum laude from the University of Kentucky College of Law.

Judge VanMeter has more than two decades of experience in Kentucky’s state court system. She was elected to the Fayette Circuit Court in 2018 and presides over civil cases, felony criminal matters, and appeals from the Fayette District Court. Prior to serving on the bench, Judge VanMeter was an equity partner with one of Kentucky’s preeminent law firms where she practiced law from 2001 to 2018.

Experience That Matters! | Lucy VanMeter

Lucy Ferguson VanMeter previously worked as an equity partner at a Kentucky law firm.

Lucy currently serves on the Fayette Circuit Court. She was elected in 2018.

As of October 6, 2026, Lucy Ferguson VanMeter’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Judicial Administration

As a judge, my rules for service are: 1. Be prepared and on time. 2. Listen to the parties. 3. Apply the law and Constitution as written. 4. Rule promptly. 5. Ensure proceedings are fair. 6. In criminal cases, always consider the safety and security of the community and impose a consequence for actions.

“All I ever wanted was to be before a judge who had read my pleadings, who was prepared for my hearing and who gave me a fair shake and applied the law,” she said. “Of course I wanted to win, but if I had lost and all those things had happened, I was OK with that. I think that’s really what lawyers want. They want somebody who’s going to apply the law consistently and predictably. Because if your judge doesn’t apply the law consistently, there’s chaos.” Since she was sworn in as a judge in Kentucky’s Fayette Circuit Court in December 2018, VanMeter said, “that’s what I try to do in my cases.”

The Public Servants: Lucy Ferguson VanMeter ’97

Applies the law and Constitution as written, consistently, and predictably.

Considers community safety and security and imposes consequences in criminal cases.

- Applies the law and Constitution as written, consistently, and predictably.
- Considers community safety and security and imposes consequences in criminal cases.

Judicial Philosophy

Serves as a Fayette Circuit Court judge, presiding over civil cases, felony criminal matters, and appeals from Fayette District Court.

- Serves as a Fayette Circuit Court judge, presiding over civil cases, felony criminal matters, and appeals from Fayette District Court.

Legal Experience

Ethics & Conduct

Community Involvement

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Lucy Ferguson VanMeter

As of October 6, 2026, Lucy Ferguson VanMETER’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Lucy Ferguson VanMETER

Isaac Brickman

Buket Urgen

Will and his wife Elizabeth, a pharmacist, are raising their two daughters, aged 13 and 10, in Lexington. The girls attend Fayette County public schools, and Will has been an active parent volunteer at Rosa Parks Elementary, serving as PTA treasurer and on the School-Based Decision Making Council.  Will and Elizabeth are active members of the First United Methodist Church of Lexington.

About Will

After serving his country, Will pursued a legal career, clerking for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces and for a Judge on the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals before joining the U.S. Department of Justice. As an Assistant U.S. Attorney, Will went after criminals trying to rip off consumers and taxpayers through price-fixing, bid-rigging, and fraud. He resigned from the DOJ in January 2025, and was appointed in April 2025 to the bench by Gov. Andy Beshear

Will Moynahan previously worked as an Assistant U.S. Attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice after clerking for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces and for a judge on the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.

Appointed by Gov. Andy Beshear in April 2025, Judge Will Moynahan brings a lifetime of public service and legal experience to the Kentucky Court of Appeals.

On the bench, Judge Moynahan approaches each case with fairness, impartiality, and the combat-tested judgment he’s built over decades of service. Now, he’s running to be elected to his seat and continue serving Kentucky.

Will was appointed to the Kentucky Court of Appeals in 2025.

As of October 6, 2026, Will Moynahan’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Moynahan told the Sun his campaign will focus on continuing his record of fair and impartial decision making, upholding the Constitution and maintaining public confidence in the judiciary.

Court of Appeals Judge William Moynahan Announces Bid to Hold Seat

Moynahan has reviewed appeals from trial courts across Kentucky.

“From my first day on the bench, my focus has been on ensuring every case is heard with an open mind and a commitment to justice,” Moynahan said in a news release. “As a Navy veteran, longtime federal prosecutor and now appellate judge, my career has been dedicated to public service. After more than 25 years serving my country, I’m now running to serve my home state on the Court of Appeals – protecting the rights of all Kentuckians.”

Focused on fair and impartial decision making and upholding the constitution.

Said that each case should be heard with an open mind and a commitment to justice.

- Focused on fair and impartial decision making and upholding the constitution.
- Said that each case should be heard with an open mind and a commitment to justice.

As a state court of appeals judge, he ensures the law has been applied correctly in state criminal and civil cases and exercises the authority to correct procedural errors or misinterpretations of fact or law by lower courts.

Clerked for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces and for a judge on the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.

- As a state court of appeals judge, he ensures the law has been applied correctly in state criminal and civil cases and exercises the authority to correct procedural errors or misinterpretations of fact or law by lower courts.
- Clerked for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces and for a judge on the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.

Is an active member of First United Methodist Church of Lexington.

- Volunteers at Rosa Parks Elementary.
- Is an active member of First United Methodist Church of Lexington.

Will Moynahan

As of October 6, 2026, Will MOYNAHAN’s website did not contain information on this issue.

- Said that each case should be heard with an open mind and a commitment to justice.

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- Clerked for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces and for a judge on the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.
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- Volunteers at Rosa Parks Elementary.
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- Is an active member of First United Methodist Church of Lexington.

Will MOYNAHAN

- The Court of Appeals hears nearly all types of cases appealed from a lower-level trial court, such as a district or circuit court. Cases are not retried, only the record of the original trial is reviewed. 
- Cases before the Court of Appeals are decided by a three-judge panel. Panels do not sit permanently in one location but move around the state to hear cases.  
- Appellate judges are elected for eight-year terms in nonpartisan elections from seven appellate districts. Vacancies can be filled by the governor's appointment, with staggered elections ensuring that only some judges are elected each year.
- Appellate judges earn $163,292 annually.

Hears appeals on orders and decisions made by lower trial courts

Kentucky Court of Appeals Judge, District 5, Division 1

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Judicial Administration

Judicial Philosophy

Legal Experience

Ethics & Conduct

Community Involvement