Secretary of State
Nine New Judicial Positions to Appear on November 2006 Ballot

(Frankfort, KY) Secretary of State Trey Grayson announced today that the Office of the Secretary of State will begin accepting filings for nine newly created judicial positions on Monday, July 17, 2006.  The positions, created by the passage of HB 267 during the 2005 session of the Kentucky General Assembly, become effective on July 15, 2006 but due to that date falling on a Saturday, the first day for accepting filings was pushed to the first business day after the 15th.  Because there will be no primary election for these positions, all candidates who have taken the appropriate steps and filed the necessary paperwork will appear on the November 7, 2006 ballot.

 “It is important for citizens to realize that these are new positions and thus there are no current candidates for the race,” stated Secretary Grayson.  “I would encourage all interested eligible citizens to contact our office if they are interested in filing for one of the races.”

 With the addition of the nine new positions, 272 judicial races will be on the ballot this fall, adding to the record number of races on the ballot in 2006.  The new positions have been designated as family court judgeships, with the exception of one office.  The following information details the new positions:

 
County of:  Warren  Circuit Judge
      “Family Court”           8th Judicial Circuit
      4th Division

 Counties of:  Hart  Circuit Judge
    LaRue  10th Judicial Circuit
    Nelson  2nd Division

 Counties of:  Garrard Circuit Judge
    Jessamine “Family Court”
      13th Judicial Circuit
      2nd Division

 Counties of:  Greenup Circuit Judge
    Lewis  “Family Court;
      20th Judicial Circuit
      2nd Division

 Counties of:  Knox  Circuit Judge
    Laurel  “Family Court”
      27th Judicial Circuit
      3rd Division

 Counties of:  Butler  Circuit Judge
    Edmonson “Family Court”
    Ohio  38th Judicial Circuit
    Hancock 2nd Division

 Counties of:  Calloway Circuit Judge
    Marshall “Family Court”
      42nd Judicial Circuit
      2nd Division

 Counties of:  Anderson Circuit Judge
    Shelby  “Family Court”
    Spencer 53rd Judicial Circuit
      2nd Division

 County of:  Bullitt  Circuit Judge
      “Family Court”
      55th Judicial Circuit
      2nd Division 
    
 Some of the qualifications for a circuit judge include: U.S. citizenship, a resident of both the Commonwealth and of the district from which he is elected for 2 years next preceding his taking office and licensed to practice law in the courts of the Commonwealth, and a licensed attorney for at least 8 years.  Candidates must file with the Office of the Secretary of State and must provide a $200 filing fee when submitting their judicial nominating petition.  Judges elected to these circuit judgeships will serve full 8-year terms.

 Candidates have until 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 8, 2006 to submit their judicial nominating petition.  For more information about filing for one of these offices, please visit the Office of the Secretary of State’s website to download a copy of “Declaring Your Candidacy.”  This publication focuses primarily on candidate filing procedures, sample candidate filing forms for attaining ballot access, qualifications for each elective office, and other important and pertinent election information that will directly or indirectly affect candidacy.

“Our office stands ready to help any potential candidate with questions he or she may have, and we hope to see spirited interest in these new positions,” remarked Secretary Grayson.
 
Secretary Grayson noted that these offices are not related to the seven judicial positions that were created by House Bill 382, as enacted by the 2006 General Assembly. That bill created seven (7) new circuit judgeships and two (2) district judgeships and has an effective date of January 1, 2007 as provided by gubernatorial veto.  Those offices will appear on the 2007 ballots.

# # #