By Chris Hendricks, Attorney at Law
Trial courts are where legal disputes and other cases reach an initial resolution, distinguished from appellate courts, where a panel of judges review a lower court’s decision. Kentucky’s trial courts are divided into two, and sometimes three, distinct courts. The differences between them can be confusing for those that do not regularly participate in the legal process.
Confusing the matter even more is the fact that the trial courts also have some unique similarities. To add another layer to the complexity is the concept of concurrent jurisdiction, but for now, we will stick to the basics. What follows is the first in a series explaining how trial courts work in Kentucky, including the types of cases handled in each and the processes applied in criminal cases.
Every county in Kentucky has a district court and a circuit court. Some, but not all, counties have a family court. Jefferson County (Louisville) is the only county in Kentucky with a business court. Each court is assigned, either by the Kentucky Constitution or the Kentucky Revised Statutes, particular types of cases to resolve. Court assignments may also be addressed by various regulations or rules of the Kentucky Supreme Court.
Some district court judges cover one county while other district judges cover multiple counties with smaller populations and lower caseloads. For example, in the Jackson Purchase area, Calloway, Marshall, McCracken, and Graves counties all have a separate district court judge. Ballard, Carlisle, Hickman, and Fulton counties have the same district court judge.
Circuit court judges may also be responsible for cases in one county or multiple counties depending on populations and caseloads. Calloway and Marshall counties collectively have one circuit judge. Ballard, Carlisle, Hickman, and Fulton counties collectively have one circuit judge. However, McCracken County has two circuit judges, and Graves County has one circuit judge. Family court is considered a circuit court that addresses specific cases separate from the circuit court in counties where there are both a circuit court and family court. Calloway and Marshall counties have the same family court judge, McCracken County has a family court judge, but Graves, Ballard, Carlisle, Hickman, and Fulton counties do not have a family court.
The business court in Jefferson County was established in 2020. According to the Kentucky Court of Justice website, the business court addresses “complex commercial cases.”
In Part 2, we will explore the district court.
*This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to constitute legal advice, is not a substitute for professional legal counsel and does not create an attorney-client relationship. This is for general knowledge and should not be relied upon for specific legal situations.
Chris Hendricks is an attorney in Murray, Kentucky. A native of Murray, he earned a Bachelor of Arts from Murray State University. Chris was employed in law enforcement for 11 years before pursuing a career in the practice of law. After earning his law degree from Southern Illinois University School of Law, Chris received a license to practice law in Kentucky in 2014. He focuses on criminal defense, appeals, personal injury and family law. He resides in Murray with his wife. They have two daughters, ages 22 and 19.
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