Published: May 12, 2008 04:27 pm         

Minton chosen as next Chief Justice of Kentucky Supreme Court

Succeeds Joseph E. Lambert who is retiring June 27

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Justice John D. Minton Jr. was chosen Monday as the next Chief Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court, succeeding the retiring Joseph E. Lambert who is leaving June 27. Minton will be sworn in the same day.



Minton, 56, of Bowling Green, was appointed to the court in July of 2006 to fill the Second District seat vacated by the retirement of Justice William S. Cooper and then elected to a full term in November of the same year. The Chief Justice is paid $137,800, about $5,000 more than other justices and heads the Administrative Office of the Courts which oversees the statewide judicial system.



Lambert, 59, is leaving before the expiration of the senior judge program which will significantly boost his retirement income.



Minton said since he became Circuit Judge in the 8th Circuit in Warren County in 1992, he realized “working as a judge suited my personality more than working as an advocate. So, to get the opportunity to do this job is a very high honor for me.”



He received six of the seven votes on the court. One justice abstained, but the court did not release how individual justices voted. Justice Wil Schroder also sought the position. Earlier, Justice Mary Noble said she was interested in becoming the first woman Chief Justice but she later withdrew from consideration. The other justices are Deputy Chief Justice Will T. Scott, who did not seek the job; Lisabeth Hughes Abramson, and Bill Cunningham.



Former Supreme Court Justice Walter Baker of Glasgow said Minton is “an excellent judge. He possesses the qualities of knowledge, leadership, patience and intellect which will make him an excellent Chief Justice. He’s just a quality gentleman, and Kentucky is lucky to have him as Chief Justice.”



Minton said his biggest immediate challenge is to “understand the total operation of the court system in Kentucky.” His ultimate objective, he said, is ensuring the integrity and honor of the court system.



He plans to draw on the accumulated experience of the other justices and termed their working relationships as “collegial.” Minton said the court system faces budgetary challenges as it seeks ways to compensate fairly the 4,000 court employees across the state and to replace those who are expected to take early retirement this year.



He expects to have a good working relationship with the legislature. Lambert, a Republican, sometimes feuded with Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville. But Minton, who is registered as a Democrat, said he has not seen any hint of a political agenda by any of the justices while he’s served on the court.



Lambert served 22 years on the court, the last 10 as Chief Justice during which time he won praise for creation of family and drug courts and for an ambitious courthouse building program. But he also was criticized.



In 2006, he inserted a footnote in an unrelated case which suggested Gov. Ernie Fletcher, under fire for alleged violations of the Merit System, could not be prosecuted while in office. Lambert was also charged by a judicial candidate running against Lambert’s wife for a Family Court position with trying to hasten changes in judicial retirement laws which would diminish the retirement benefits of the candidate opposing her. Lambert recently came under fire because his son works for the bonding agent which works with many counties to finance new courthouses.



Lambert said Monday he hasn’t decided what he will do now.



“The question is do you retire at an age to have a second career?” Lambert said. “I feel really, really good.”



Lambert has been mentioned as a potential candidate for office, including governor. Asked if elective political office might be a tempting second career, Lambert said, “Well, you just never know,” but he would not elaborate.



Minton was elected Circuit Judge in Warren County in 1992 and also served as chief regional judge for the 21-county Green River Region from 1996 to 2003 when he was elected to the Kentucky Court of Appeals. During his time as Circuit Judge, Minton helped form the Warren County Drug Court and he served for a time as a Family Court Judge. Prior to serving on the bench, Minton practiced law in Bowling Green for 15 years.



He earned his BA degree in history and English from Western Kentucky University in 1974 where his father, John Minton Sr., was a history professor and later President. Minton received his law degree from the University of Kentucky in 1977. Originally from Trigg County, Minton grew up in Bowling Green and is married to the former Susan Lenell Page. They have a daughter, Page Sullivan Minton, and a son, John D. Minton III.



Minton is the fifth Chief Justice since the Judicial Reform Act in the mid-70s reorganized Kentucky’s court system. The others were Lambert (1998-2008), Robert F. Stephens (1982-1998), John S. Palmore (1977-1982) and Scott E. Reed (1976-1977).



RONNIE ELLIS writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. Reach him at rellis@cnhi.com.