Determining the appropriate number of circuit and district judges to serve in communities across Kentucky relies on a weighted caseload review. That process was used to make recommendations to lawmakers earlier this year. Kentucky Chief Justice John Minton said the answer today is not always to add judges.
“Every time the census report comes out, you know the population of the Commonwealth is shifting and so some places that needed more judges before, 10-20 years later, don’t need as many judges,” said Minton.
Minton said the weighted caseload standard looks at the types of cases and the time devoted to various cases in the courtroom.
“A complicated complex civil case like a medical negligence case or a class action case is complicated, takes time. A misdemeanor shoplifting case takes a whole lot less time. So, we can’t just count cases and determine the need.”
Kentucky lawmakers this past session adopted legislation to set in place judgeships over the next several years. Chief Justice Minton was in Lexington last week to participate in the official dedication of the legal help center in Fayette County.
