Kentucky: Court of Justice - Justice Bill Cunningham

Justice Bill Cunningham was elected to the Supreme Court of Kentucky in November 2006 to serve the 1st Supreme Court District.

Before becoming a member of the state's highest court, Justice Cunningham served as a circuit court judge for 15 years. He was elected to the Circuit Court Bench in November 1991 to serve the 56th Judicial Circuit, which consists of Caldwell, Livingston, Lyon and Trigg counties. He was re-elected in 1999 and served as circuit judge until January 2007.

Justice Cunningham served the court system in several capacities before entering his judicial career. He was the Eddyville City Attorney from 1974 to 1991 and the Public Defender for the Kentucky State Penitentiary from 1974 to 1976. He served as Commonwealth's Attorney for the 56th Judicial District from 1976 to 1988. During his tenure in that position, he was voted the Outstanding Commonwealth Attorney of Kentucky by his peers. Justice Cunningham also served as a hearing officer for the Kentucky Board of Claims from 1981 to 1985 and as a trial commissioner for Lyon County District Court from 1989 to 1992.

Justice Cunningham earned his bachelor's degree from Murray State University in 1962 and his juris doctor in 1969 from the University Of Kentucky College Of Law. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served in Vietnam, Korea and Germany.

Justice Bill Cunningham discusses guerilla tactics with Special Forces Group at Fort Campbell

Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Bill Cunningham spoke to the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at a leadership professional development event in Fort

Campbell on Monday, Nov. 21. He was invited to discuss tactics used by the Night Riders in early 20th Century guerilla warfare. Full Release (59KB-PDF).

Justice Cunningham hosts Court at the Cupboard event to educate public about court system

Justice Bill Cunningham of the Supreme Court of Kentucky hosted Court at the Cupboard, an event to educate the public about the court system, Aug. 12, 2011, at the Country Cupboard restaurant in Madisonville. In addition to Justice Cunningham, participants will include Court of Appeals Judge Donna L. Dixon and all Hopkins County circuit and district judges. The gathering will take place from 8-10 a.m. CDT and include free coffee. “For people to respect the court system, they need some understanding of it,” Justice Cunningham said. “The best way to understand it is to ask judges questions about it directly.”

Justice Cunningham discusses shared history of Kentucky and Tennessee at Memphis Rotary Club meeting

Justice Bill Cunningham of the Supreme Court of Kentucky was a guest speaker at the Rotary Club of Memphis East's luncheon June 22, 2011, at the Racquet Club of Memphis in Memphis, Tenn. Justice Cunningham was invited to speak by an Army friend who is a member of the Rotary and a Memphis attorney. He discussed aspects of the shared history and other commonalities of Kentucky and Tennessee dating back to the creation of the two states.

Justice Cunningham named Western Kentucky Writer of the Decade

Supreme Court Justice Bill Cunningham has been named Western Kentucky Writer of the Decade for writing about the history, heritage and culture of the region in 2000-2010. He was recognized with a plaque April 21 in celebration of Kentucky Writers’ Day. The Jackson Purchase Historical & Tourism Commission, the Hickman County Arts Council and the Hickman County Historical & Genealogical Society co-sponsored the award. The official celebration for Kentucky Writers’ Day is April 25 in Frankfort. The day celebrates the birth of Western Kentucky native Robert Penn Warren, who was the first U.S. poet laureate and recipient of three Pulitzer prizes.

Justice Cunningham to discuss state's pro bono efforts Oct. 25 on KET

As part of the National Pro Bono Celebration, Justice Bill Cunningham of the Supreme Court of Kentucky will be the featured speaker on "One to One with Bill Goodman" on Kentucky Educational Television (KET1) at 1 p.m. EDT Oct. 25. He will discuss the state's efforts to provide free civil legal assistance to those who cannot afford representation. From Oct. 25-31, Kentucky lawyers will join the American Bar Association in its National Pro Bono Celebration, the first coordinated effort to recognize the impact of attorneys who donate legal services to the poor. Please visit KET's Web site External Link for additional air times for the program with Justice Cunningham.

Justice Cunningham is keynote speaker at Guthrie, Ky., marker ceremony

Supreme Court Justice Bill Cunningham was the keynote speaker at a marker ceremony in Guthrie, Ky., June 20, 2009. The historic highway marker commemorates the 1904 meeting of more than 5,000 farmers in Guthrie for the formation of the Dark Fired Tobacco Association. The association was formed to combat the strangling James B. Duke monopoly which was driving down tobacco prices for the farmers to starvation level. The association’s efforts were followed by a farmer revolt led by the Night Riders against the Duke Trust between 1904-09. The revolt was the most violent and sustained civil uprising in America between the Civil War and the race riots of the 1960s. Justice Cunningham serves the 1st Supreme Court District in Western Kentucky. Justice Cunningham’s remarks (60KB-PDF)

Justice Cunningham, Circuit Judge Langford tour Mississippi River District

Supreme Court Justice Bill Cunningham and Circuit Judge Tim Langford toured the Mississippi River District Jan. 23. The two jurists visited the circuit clerks and other court officials in Ballard, Carlisle, Fulton and Hickman counties, among other stops. Full story.(95KB-PDF)

Justice Cunningham speaks at Performing Arts Center in Mayfield

Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Bill Cunningham spoke at the Graves County Schools Performing Arts Center in Mayfield, Ky., on Nov. 13, 2008. Murray State University’s Department of History and Justice sponsored the event. Justice Cunningham served as the department’s distinguished guest scholar. More information. (9KB-PDF)

Justice Cunningham receives top award from Department of Corrections

The Kentucky Department of Corrections recently honored Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Bill Cunningham with the agency’s top award, the 2008 Lucille Hurt Robuck “Commitment to Corrections” Award. Justice Cunningham has devoted his career to the field of criminal justice. He is also a noted Kentucky historian and an accomplished author. Prior to becoming a member of the state’s highest court, he spent 35 years serving as a circuit judge for Lyon, Trigg and Caldwell counties, a commonwealth’s attorney, city attorney and public defender. He also served as a hearing officer for the Kentucky Board of Claims and as a trial commissioner. Full news release.

Justice Cunningham gives keynote speech at corrections conference

Justice Bill Cunningham of the Supreme Court of Kentucky was the general session keynote speaker for the 2010 Indiana Correctional Association Conference on Oct. 7 in Indianapolis. He told the attendees that it takes respect, pride, commitment and a positive attitude to succeed in the corrections field. News Release (46KB-PDF)