In Kentucky, Legislators Requested Funding For A Family Court

FRANKFORT, Ky., - A request to fund a Family Court judge for Bourbon, Scott and Woodford counties has been included in the Judicial Branch's budget recommendation to the 2006 Kentucky General Assembly, Chief Justice Joseph E. Lambert announced.

Circuit Judges Paul Isaacs and Robert Johnson, who serve these three counties, sent the funding request in a letter to the members of the Supreme Court of Kentucky. The court's seven justices approved the proposal after Justice John C. Roach advocated on its behalf.

"This judicial circuit was very much in favor of the Family Court amendment," said Justice Roach, who serves Central Kentucky's 5th Appellate District. "In 2002, 78 percent of the voters in Bourbon, Scott and Woodford counties said yes to pass the amendment. This circuit is also one of the state's most heavily populated that is still without a Family Court. I believe it's time to help these counties deal with their heavy family law caseload."

“I made establishing a Family Court one of my top priorities after taking the bench," said Judge Johnson. "Children and their families deserve a more integrated system, with one judge hearing their entire case instead of several judges hearing bits and pieces. I have always placed a priority on family cases, but establishing a Family Court should expedite these cases even more.”

"With the increased caseload involving families, a new judgeship for this circuit is appropriate," said Judge Isaacs. "This area is growing and the courts must expand to continue to meet the needs of its citizens."