Deputy Chief Justice Mary C. Noble

5th Supreme Court District

State Capitol, Room 201
700 Capitol Avenue
Frankfort, Ky. 40601
Phone: 502-564-5444

300 West Vine Street, Suite 2201
Lexington, Ky. 40507
Phone: 859-246-2220

After serving fifteen years as a Fayette Circuit Court judge, Mary C. Noble was elected to the Supreme Court from the Fifth Supreme Court District, which comprises, Fayette, Franklin, Scott, Woodford, Bourbon, Clark, Madison, Jessamine, Boyle, Mercer and Anderson Counties in 2006.  She was re-elected to the Supreme Court unopposed in 2008.  In 2010, Chief Justice John Minton appointed her Deputy Chief Justice.  In 2011, she became the first woman to preside at the Kentucky Supreme Court in a case in which the Chief Justice was recused.

Deputy Chief Justice Noble obtained her undergraduate degree, majoring in English, and her Master’s degree, majoring in Psychology, from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tn.  A native of Breathitt County, Kentucky, she graduated from Breathitt County High School, and attended Lees Junior College before transferring to Austin Peay after her marriage to Larry Noble in 1968.

In 1971, she began her professional career by teaching English at Montgomery Central High School in Montgomery County, TN.  After obtaining her Master’s degree, she served as a guidance counselor at Columbia Military Academy and later as a Psychology instructor at Columbia State Community College in Columbia, Tn.  She returned to Kentucky to attend the University Of Kentucky College Of Law in 1979, and graduated in December, 1981.

Deputy Chief Justice Noble began her legal practice at the law firm of Bryan and Fogle in Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, in 1982, where she primarily practiced school law and insurance defense.  In 1983, she began a general litigation practice in Lexington, Kentucky, continuing to represent school boards and doing civil plaintiff’s cases and criminal defense.  She obtained several large plaintiff’s settlements and notable criminal defense verdicts, and also served as Domestic Relations Commissioner for Fayette Circuit Court, Third Division, for two years until her election to the circuit bench in 1991.  She served as Chief Judge of the Fayette Circuit Court and the region, the first woman to serve in such capacity in the over 200 year history of Fayette Circuit Court.

In 1996, Deputy Chief Justice Noble, Chief Justice Minton and District Judge Henry Webber established the Court of Justice Drug Court program.  She presided as a Drug Court judge for ten years.  She has also served on the Board of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, is a member of the organization’s Hall of Fame, and has been invited to speak about Drug Court-related topics throughout the country.

Deputy Chief Justice Noble chairs the Family Court Rules Committee, and led efforts to draft the first statewide Family Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.  She previously chaired the Civil Rules Committee.

Deputy Chief Justice Noble receives award from Hellenic Ideals Program

Deputy Chief Justice Mary C. Noble of the Supreme Court of Kentucky received an award Oct. 2, 2010, from the Hellenic Ideals Program of the Bluegrass for exemplifying the Greek ideals of citizenship. The organization promotes ancient Hellenic principles such as the importance of the individual, the concept of freedom and the value of seeking the truth. Each year, it honors an individual from the Bluegrass who exemplifies these ideals. Justice Noble was recognized with the award at the organization's annual lecture program. Martha-Ann Alito, wife of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito, was the featured lecturer. Justice Noble invited Mrs. Alito to deliver the lecture, which took place in the Recital Hall of the Singletary Center for the Arts at the University of Kentucky

Deputy Chief Justice Mary C. Noble becomes first woman to preside in Supreme Court oral arguments

Deputy Chief Justice Mary C. Noble became the first woman to preside during oral arguments in the Supreme Court of Kentucky on June 8, 2011, when she oversaw arguments in the criminal case of Commonwealth of Kentucky v. Leinenbach. "Most women today probably have more freedom to choose than they've ever had," Justice Noble said. "But we still have very limited opportunity in leadership positions in the government and in business. So, when something like this happens, it's a milestone." Justice Noble presided in place of Chief Justice of Kentucky John D. Minton Jr., who recused in the case. Arguments took place in the Supreme Court Courtroom in the Capitol in Frankfort. Listen to Kentucky Public Radio’s interview with Justice Noble – History Made in High Court