FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Forty-four new circuit and district judges representing 52 counties participated in the 2010 New Judges Orientation from March 7-10 in Lexington. The Kentucky Administrative Office of the Courts offered the program for new circuit and district judges.
“The orientation program provided essential training for new judges in a setting that allowed them to learn alongside and network with other new judges,” said Pike County Family Court Judge Larry E. Thompson, president of the Kentucky Circuit Judges Association. “With the significant influx of new judges, this educational orientation was needed and timely.”
Most of the new judges who attended the orientation were appointed by Gov. Steve Beshear through the Judicial Nominating Commission process. They were named to fill vacancies that resulted largely from judges retiring to join the Senior Judges Program before it sunset Jan. 31, 2009. Several of the appointees were judges who were moved to another judicial level, such as a district judge who was appointed to a circuit judgeship.
Experienced Kentucky judges and AOC personnel conducted the orientation sessions. Judges met in joint sessions for training on ethics and conduct, domestic violence, pretrial and bail.
Participants also attended separate sessions specific to their jurisdiction. Circuit judges learned about civil proceedings, jury management, discovery, summary judgment, criminal issues and capital trials. Family Court judges received training on adoption, termination of parental rights, child support and divorce. District judges learned about probate, driving under the influence cases, small claims and young offenders.
“It is important that all judges, especially our new judges, receive training in the areas that are part of their jurisdictional obligations,” said Campbell County District Court Judge Karen A. Thomas, president of the Kentucky District Judges Association. “The orientation was valuable for the judges at each level.”
The judges had the opportunity to earn 20 continuing education credits through the orientation.
Circuit Court
Circuit Court is the court of general jurisdiction that hears civil matters involving more than $4,000, capital offenses and felonies, divorces, adoptions, termination of parental rights, land dispute title cases and contested probate cases.
Family Court
A division of Circuit Court, Family Court has primary jurisdiction in cases involving family issues, such as divorces, adoption, child support, domestic violence and juvenile status offenses.
District Court
District Court is a court of limited jurisdiction. 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 are voluntary and involuntary mental commitments and cases relating to domestic violence and abuse.
Administrative Office of the Courts
The Administrative Office of the Courts in Frankfort supports the activities of approximately 3,700 Kentucky Court of Justice employees, including the elected offices of justices, judges and circuit court clerks. The AOC Division of Judicial Branch Education provides continuing education for judges.