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.

2026 Kentucky General Election

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

Judicial Administration

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.

Judicial Philosophy

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.

Legal Experience

Ethics & Conduct

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.

Community Involvement

Instagram

Will Moynahan

Facebook

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

Isaac Brickman

Buket Urgen

Lucy Ferguson VanMeter

- 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