"So Jason, I hear you’re running for the Court of Appeals?
What exactly is that?"
Several folks have asked me what judgeship I’m seeking. While a lot of people are familiar with their local District Judges and Circuit Judges, many don’t know what the Court of Appeals does, and most cannot name any of their Court of Appeals Judges. Nonetheless, despite its relative anonymity, the Court of Appeals does important work.
Kentucky’s Court of Appeals is the state’s intermediate appellate court, hearing appeals of both civil and criminal cases. Parties dissatisfied with the outcome of their case in the trial court can seek review in the Court of Appeals. Some cases, like criminal acquittals or divorce decrees, cannot be appealed. Others, like criminal convictions involving the death penalty or a 20+ year prison term, are appealed directly to Kentucky’s Supreme Court. Appeals from just about all other cases, however, come before the Court of Appeals.
The Court of Appeals consists of fourteen judges, two from each of Kentucky’s seven appellate Districts. Each Court of Appeals Judge does not just hear cases from his/her District, but instead is each month assigned to a different three-judge panel that can hear cases originating from across the Commonwealth.
I am seeking election to one of the two seats in District 1, which is Kentucky’s westernmost appellate District. District 1 goes all the way from Ballard, Carlisle, Hickman, and Fulton Counties in the west, to Crittenden, Webster, and McLean Counties in the north, to Butler, Edmonson, Simpson, and Allen Counties in the east, and every county in between. In total, the District includes 24 counties.
The Court of Appeals is important because it serves as the first and only appeal of most cases originating in Circuit Court. Most parties who are not satisfied with the outcome of their case will appeal that case to the Court of Appeals, where it will be reviewed, decided, and in most cases, concluded. It is crucial that the Court of Appeals have judges who are thoughtful, intelligent, and deliberative. I believe I have the temperament, qualifications, and experience to be a great Court of Appeals Judge, and I’d really appreciate your support. Questions? Contact me here.
