Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice John Minton announces retirement plans
Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice John D. Minton Jr., who was elected to the state’s highest court in 2006, plans to retire at the end of his term in 2022.
Leigh Anne Hiatt, public information officer for the state Administrative Office of the Courts, confirmed the retirement Wednesday afternoon after Minton initially announced during an interview earlier in the day with Western Kentucky University Public Radio that he would not seek re-election next year.
Minton, 69, of Bowling Green, told the radio station that he wanted to announce his intentions early even though his term doesn’t expire until Jan. 1, 2023.
“One of the rules of traditional politics would be that an elected official, such as the chief justice, would never confirm that he wasn’t seeking re-election because the concern is that you become immediately irrelevant,” said Minton. “Well, I don’t intend to become irrelevant. I’ve got more than a year left to serve.”
Minton represents 14 counties in Kentucky’s 2nd Supreme Court District. Voters will choose his successor in a non-partisan election next November. The seven justices will then choose who they want to become chief justice.
Minton became chief justice in 2008 after first serving as a circuit court and appeals court judge.
A native of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Minton earned a bachelor’s degree — with honors — in history and English from Western Kentucky University in 1974. He earned his law degree from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 1977.
Before his election as a circuit court judge, Minton practiced law in Bowling Green for about 15 years.
The many cases he has presided over while on the Supreme Court include this year’s ruling spelling out the powers of a governor when issuing emergency executive orders.
Under his tenure, the Supreme Court adopted the state’s first uniform family law rules and formed the Kentucky Access to Justice Commission to improve access to civil legal aid for the poor.
As a member of the Task Force on the Penal Code and Controlled Substances Act, Minton joined forces with the executive and legislative branches to curb prison costs and improve public safety. In 2009, he led the judicial branch in posting its financial information on a public website shared with the executive branch.
