AOC signs lease-to-purchase contract on Home Depot property in Frankfort
The Administrative Office of the Courts will move its facilities to a new location in Frankfort under a lease-to-purchase contract signed with Home Depot. The move, which is anticipated to take place in 2013, will reduce the cost to house the Judicial Branch’s administrative offices. Under the agreement, the AOC will purchase the vacant 14-acre Home Depot property at 1001 Vandalay Drive in Frankfort and consolidate its facilities into one building from seven.
Court of Appeals to hear Campbell County criminal case and Johnson County civil case Feb. 7 in Frankfort
The Kentucky Court of Appeals will hear a Campbell County criminal case and a Johnson County civil case on appeal when it convenes Tuesday, Feb. 7, in Frankfort. Proceedings are open to the public and will begin at 1 p.m. EST in the Court of Appeals Courtroom at 360 Democrat Drive. Court of Appeals Judges Michael Caperton and Kelly Thompson and Senior Judge Joseph E. Lambert will hear arguments in the cases.
Supreme Court to hear arguments Feb. 15-17 in Frankfort
The Supreme Court of Kentucky will convene Wednesday-Friday, Feb. 15-17, in Frankfort to hear oral arguments in cases that originated in Boone, Fayette, Franklin, Jefferson, Meade and Muhlenberg counties. Proceedings are open to the public and will take place at 9, 10 and 11 a.m. EST each day in the Supreme Court Courtroom at the state Capitol. The public may also observe oral arguments via the Supreme Court live stream.
Court of Appeals to hear arguments on four days in February
The Court of Appeals will convene Feb. 7 in Frankfort, Feb. 15-16 in Louisville and Feb. 29 in Lexington and hear arguments in cases from Bullitt, Campbell, Fayette, Franklin, Garrard, Jefferson, Johnson and Laurel counties. See the oral argument schedule for more information.
Franklin Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd receives Freedom of Information Award
Franklin County Circuit Court Judge Phillip Shepherd has won the Barry Bingham Sr. Freedom of Information Award for his work in opening records to the public on children who died or were badly hurt due to abuse and neglect. He received the award from the Louisville Courier-Journal on Jan. 20 at the annual Kentucky Press Association convention in Lexington. Judge Shepherd ruled several times between 2010 and January 2012 that the state Cabinet for Health and Family Services improperly withheld records on children who died or were injured because of abuse or neglect and that the records should be open under the state open-records law. The Courier-Journal, Lexington Herald-Leader and Todd County Standard sued the cabinet to gain access to the records. The Bingham award, named in memory of the late publisher of The Courier-Journal, is given periodically to a person who exhibits tenacity in fighting for the public’s right to know. Judge Shepherd was the first person to receive the award since 2004.
Volunteers needed to assist children in foster care in Bullitt, Henry, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer and Trimble counties
Citizen Foster Care Review Boards in Bullitt, Henry, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer and Trimble counties are seeking volunteers to make a difference in the lives of local children in foster care. Volunteers are needed to review cases of children placed in foster care because of abuse, dependency and neglect to ensure these children are placed in safe, permanent homes as quickly as possible. Volunteers are not required to reside in the county where a board meets. Contact: Amy Smitha or Kirstie Willis, 502-595-3498 or amys@kycourts.net or kirstiewillis@kycourts.net.
Volunteers needed to assist children in foster care in Northern Kentucky
The Northern Kentucky Citizen Foster Care Review Boards are seeking volunteers to make a difference in the lives of local children in foster care, especially those in Harrison, Grant, Nicholas and Pendleton counties. Volunteers are needed to review cases of children placed in foster care because of abuse, dependency and neglect to ensure these children are placed in safe, permanent homes as quickly as possible. Volunteers are not required to reside in the county where a board meets. Contact: Jamie Bergman at 859-334-3245 or jamiebergman@kycourts.net.
Volunteers needed to assist children in foster care in Breckinridge, Butler, Muhlenberg counties
Citizen Foster Care Review Boards for Breckinridge, Butler and Muhlenberg counties are seeking volunteers to make a difference in the lives of local children in foster care. Volunteers are needed to review cases of children placed in foster care because of abuse, dependency and neglect to ensure these children are placed in safe, permanent homes as quickly as possible. Volunteers are not required to reside in the county where a board meets. Contact: Skye Lindsey, 270-298-9055 or skyelindsey@kycourts.net.
Volunteers needed to assist children placed in foster care in Bath, Boyd, Clay, Jackson, Lee, Menifee, Owsley and Pike counties
Citizen Foster Care Review Boards for Bath, Boyd, Clay, Jackson, Lee, Menifee, Owsley and Pike counties are seeking volunteers to make a difference in the lives of local children in foster care. Volunteers are needed to review cases of children placed in foster care because of abuse, dependency and neglect to ensure these children are placed in safe, permanent homes as quickly as possible. Volunteers are not required to reside in the county where a board meets. For more information, contact Shawna Wathen at 606-287-6029 or shawnawathen@kycourts.net
Volunteers needed to assist children in foster care in Bracken, Kenton and Mason counties
Citizen Foster Care Review Boards for Bracken, Kenton and Mason counties are seeking volunteers to make a difference in the lives of local children in foster care. Volunteers are needed to review cases of children placed in foster care because of abuse, dependency and neglect to ensure these children are placed in safe, permanent homes as quickly as possible. Volunteers are not required to reside in the county where a board meets. For more information, contact Jamie Bergman at 859-334-3245 or jamiebergman@kycourts.net.
Volunteers needed to assist children placed in foster care in Bell, Knox, Laurel, Lincoln, McCreary and Rockcastle counties
Citizen Foster Care Review Boards for Bell, Knox, Laurel, Lincoln, McCreary and Rockcastle counties are seeking volunteers to make a difference in the lives of local children in foster care. Volunteers are needed to review cases of children placed in foster care because of abuse, dependency and neglect to ensure these children are placed in safe, permanent homes as quickly as possible. Volunteers are not required to reside in the county where a board meets. For more information, contact Shan Sears at 606-451-4303.
Volunteers needed to assist children in foster care in Fayette County
The Fayette County Citizen Foster Care Review Boards are seeking volunteers to make a difference in the lives of local children in foster care. Volunteers are needed to review cases of children placed in foster care because of abuse, dependency and neglect to ensure these children are placed in safe, permanent homes as quickly as possible. Volunteers are not required to reside in the county where a board meets. For more information, contact Shelli Rapier at 800-928-2350 or shellirapier@kycourts.net