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Kentucky County Judge/Executive Association History

County judge/executives have been and continue to be strong leaders in our communities, counties, state and nation.  There are several Kentucky county judge/executives who have gone on to serve at the state and national levels of government.  In our research there has been an association of county judges in existence since 1917. 

The first record of our Association was in the December 14, 1917 issue of The Courier-Journal in Louisville .  The CountyJudges' Association of Kentucky held the annual meeting at the courthouse in Jefferson County on December 13, 1917 .   Dr R. Elmore and Rodman Wiley, State Highway Commissioner, addressed the group followed by discussion of the various aspects of road construction and supervision.  “The Objects and Aims of the County Judges ’ Association” was the subject of an address by Judge Wallace Brown, of Bardstown, president of the Association.

The Kentucky County Judge/Executive Association was formed in 1980.  It was incorporated as a non-profit corporation in 1982.  The primary purpose of the Association is to act as a liaison between county judge/executives and state and federal government entities.  The Association monitors the legislative process on issues that affect county governments. Through speaking engagements and regularly scheduled meetings, the Association staff strives to inform and educate local officials on issues vital to county governments in Kentucky .

History of the office of County Judge/Executive

Kentucky's Constitutions of 1792 and 1799 did not provide for a county judge. Justices of the peace were the most important local judicial officials during the time these constitutions were in effect. Their duties included responsibility for county administrative matters.

Article IV, section 29, of the Kentucky Constitution of 1850 provided for a county judge. During the time this constitution was in effect the county judge presided over county court, the court of claims, and quarterly court. County court exercised appellate jurisdiction over justices' courts and functioned as the legislative and administrative authority for the county. Courts of claims were an aggregation of all of a county's justices of the peace sitting for the purpose of imposing the county tax levy and appropriating county funds. Quarterly court exercised minor civil jurisdiction.

Under the 1891 Constitution, the office of judge of the county court combined a number of judicial, legislative and administrative duties. Sections 139 and 140 made the county judge the chief judicial officer of the county and quarterly courts. He was also made the presiding officer of the fiscal court, the county legislative body (Section 144). Over the years, additional duties of an executive and administrative nature were assigned to the county judge by the General Assembly.

The Office Today

The 1975 Judicial Amendment to the Constitution, which reorganized the state's judicial system, stripped the office of the county judge of its judicial powers and responsibilities. While the county judge was no longer a judicial officer, the Judicial Amendment (Ky. Const., sec. 124) left other aspects of the office intact. Section 124 says that "[n]othing...shall be construed to limit the powers otherwise granted by this Constitution to the county judge as the chief executive, administrative and fiscal officer of the county..." Also unchanged were numerous statutory powers and duties that have accumulated over the years.

During the 1976 Extraordinary Session, the General Assembly restyled the office of county judge by enacting legislation that strengthened and clarified its administrative and executive powers (KRS 67.710 and 67.715). The title of the office was changed from county judge to county judge/executive, underscoring the altered nature and duties of the position. Additional changes, primarily growth of the judge/executive's responsibilities for financial administration, were made by the General Assembly in 1978 and 1980.

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