Dorislee Gilbert

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Dorislee Gilbert

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 8, 2022

Personal

Birthplace

Kentucky

Profession

Attorney

Contact

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Dorislee Gilbert ran for election for judge of the Kentucky 30th Circuit Court 10th Division. She lost in the general election on November 8, 2022.

Gilbert completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Dorislee Gilbert was born in Kentucky. Her career experience includes working as an attorney.

Elections

2022

See also: City elections in Louisville, Kentucky (2022)

General election

General election for Kentucky 30th Circuit Court 10th Division

Patricia Morris defeated Dorislee Gilbert in the general election for Kentucky 30th Circuit Court 10th Division on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Patricia Morris (Nonpartisan)	53.0	103,918
		Dorislee Gilbert (Nonpartisan)	46.2	90,670
		Other/Write-in votes	0.8	1,567

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 196,155
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Kentucky 30th Circuit Court 10th Division

Patricia Morris and Dorislee Gilbert defeated Zackary McKee in the primary for Kentucky 30th Circuit Court 10th Division on May 17, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Patricia Morris (Nonpartisan)	43.8	46,973
✔		Dorislee Gilbert (Nonpartisan)	28.5	30,572
	Submit photo	Zackary McKee (Nonpartisan)	27.6	29,578

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 107,123
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Dorislee Gilbert completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Gilbert's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am Dorislee Gilbert, attorney and candidate for Jefferson Circuit Court Judge, Division 10. I am running for judge because I care about how the justice system works in our community. I’ve spent much of my career as an advocate for survivors of child abuse and domestic violence, and I’ve had the privilege to accompany some of the bravest people you could imagine through the legal system and their journey for justice. I believe that justice demands and people deserve competent, qualified, empathetic judges. Our community is safer when people can have faith in judges to rule impartially, consistently, knowledgeably, and based upon the law. I’ve been endorsed by Citizens for Better Judges because my 20-year legal career and my life experience have equipped me to do these things. Read on to learn more details.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• I’ve spent most of my 20-year career as a public servant doing really meaningful work in the Louisville community, including significant work for survivors of domestic violence and child abuse. Doing that work has allowed me the honor of meeting some of the bravest people you can imagine who have been through horrific tragedies. In journeying with these folks through the justice system, I’m not always impressed with how it treats them. I believe our system can operate in a more trauma-informed way that will improve the justice system experience for everyone involved. My experience in trauma-informed advocacy—including as a practitioner, author, and trainer—will help me do this.
• I am the mother of two amazing biracial boys, one who has Down Syndrome. My experience in a diverse household motivates me and gives me important perspective. I’ve witnessed firsthand how our world can be quick to misjudge people based on the color of their skin or their perceived abilities (or lack thereof). I commit that this type of misjudgment will not happen in my courtroom.
• Quantity and quality of experience matters. In my 20-year legal career, I’ve handled civil and criminal cases, including jury trials ranging from misdemeanor child abuse to capital murder cases. I’ve appeared in all levels of Kentucky courts (District, Family, Circuit, Court of Appeals, Kentucky Supreme Court). I’ve engaged in extensive trial and appellate practice which means I am prepared to do the research and writing required to rule on many issues, and I am equipped to make split second decisions in the middle of trial. I’m a published legal scholar and trainer on issues including domestic violence, trauma-informed advocacy, and trial practice. I serve on local committees to prevent domestic violence.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about impartial, knowledgeable application of the law. Our community is safer and opportunities are greater for people in our community when our justice system is led by judges who are competent, qualified, knowledgeable, empathetic, and impartial.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

Not exactly, but because there are so many different levels of courts in Kentucky, a little information about what the Circuit Court does could be useful in evaluating candidates. The Circuit Court hears criminal and civil cases. Generally, criminal cases come to Circuit Court after an indictment has been returned by a Grand Jury and involve at least one felony charge (a charge that someone faces a penalty of at least one year in prison). This would include felony theft charges, robberies, serious assaults, burglaries, murders, and most sexual assault cases. The Circuit Court also hears capital murder or death penalty cases. It hears civil cases where the amount at issue is more than $5,000. For example, this would include most cases involving claims of medical malpractice, employment discrimination, or wrongful death. The Circuit Court hears appeals from District Court, reviews administrative decisions, and hears certain probate and land title dispute cases. In Jefferson County, there are thirteen Circuit Court Judges, who all hear cases randomly assigned to them from across the county. All judicial races in Jefferson County are countywide races.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Kentucky 30th Circuit Court 10th Division

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Footnotes

Kentucky courts

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Federal courts:

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Kentucky, Western District of Kentucky • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Kentucky, Western District of Kentucky

State courts:

Kentucky Supreme Court • Kentucky Court of Appeals • Kentucky Circuit Courts • Kentucky District Courts • Kentucky Family Court

State resources:

Courts in Kentucky • Kentucky judicial elections • Judicial selection in Kentucky