District Court

The District Court has limited jurisdiction, which means it hears only certain types of cases. Ninety percent of all Kentuckians involved in court proceedings appear before District Court. Juvenile matters, city and county ordinances, misdemeanors, traffic offenses, probate of wills, felony preliminary hearings, small claims, and civil cases involving $4,000 or less are all District Court matters, as well as voluntary and involuntary mental commitments and cases relating to domestic violence and abuse. There are 116 district judges in sixty judicial districts in Kentucky. If a district has a high population and a heavy caseload, it may consist of only one county but have several judges. In less populated areas, a district may encompass more than one county, but have only one judge who travels among the district's counties to hear cases. In fiscal year 2004, the District Court recorded 829,957 cases filed and 818,827 cases disposed.