John Minton Jr
Kentucky Supreme Court
John D. Minton Jr. of Bowling Green was elected to the Supreme Court of Kentucky in 2006 and was sworn in as Kentucky’s fifth chief justice in 2008. His fellow justices elected him as chief justice for a second term that began in June 2012.
Under his administration, the Supreme Court adopted the state’s first uniform family law rules and formed the Kentucky Access to Justice Commission to improve access to civil legal aid for the poor. As a member of the Task Force on the Penal Code and Controlled Substances Act, Chief Justice Minton joined forces with the Executive and Legislative branches to curb prison costs and improve public safety. He supports transparent government and in 2009 led the Judicial Branch in posting its financial information on a public website shared with the Executive Branch.
Chief Justice Minton is steering the Judicial Branch through Kentucky’s worst economic downturn in decades by creating efficiencies at all four levels of the court system. Under his leadership, the Administrative Office of the Courts commissioned the National Center for State Courts to audit the AOC in an effort to achieve a leaner, more efficient organizational structure.
As head of the Judicial Branch, he is committed to investing in the people who operate the court system and in the technology that can help Kentucky courts reduce costs and deliver better service. He formed the Technology Governance Committee to create a strategic technology plan for the courts and guide efforts to replace the outdated case management system with one that will allow eFiling and innovative electronic services. He also created a Compensation Commission to determine how to make the Judicial Branch’s salary structure more fair and competitive with the other branches of state government.
- Kentucky
- Justice
- Kentucky Supreme Court
- - Current
- Chief Justice 2008-present
- Judge
- Kentucky Court of Appeals
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- Judge
- Kentucky Circuit Court
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- Attorney
- Private Practice
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- Western Kentucky University
- Undergraduate degree
- University of Kentucky College of Law
- J.D.
- Distinguished Alumni Award
- Western Kentucky University Hall
- Distinguished Jurist
- University of Kentucky College of Law Alumni Association
- Outstanding Judge Award
- Kentucky Bar Association
- Kentucky State Bar
- Member
- Current
- Toll Fellowship Program
- Alumni
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