Chief Justice Minton to Retire

Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice John D. Minton Jr. announced he would not run for reelection. The commonwealth’s 2nd Supreme Court District judge said he would retire when his term expires in January 2023.

Minton’s announcement this week leaves time for candidates to prepare to run for the high court seat.

“I felt like I should go ahead and let the people of the 2nd Supreme Court District know my intentions so that qualified people who might want to seek this job would do so,” Minton told the Associated Press. “I want to give them plenty of time to make those arrangements.”

Governor Ernie Fletcher appointed Chief Justice Minton to the high court in 2006. Members of the court elected him chief justice in 2008. Minton will reach a milestone in January– 30 years serving as a judge. He previously presided as a circuit court judge and state Court of Appeals judge.

The 2nd District consists of 14 counties and includes the cities of Bowling Green, Elizabethtown, Glasgow, Hardinsburg, Hartford, Hawesville, Henderson, Hodgenville, Leitchfield, Morganfield, Munfordville, Owensboro, and Shepherdsville.