Karen Faulkner

Karen Faulkner

Nonpartisan

Candidate, Kentucky 30th District Court 8th Division

Kentucky 30th District Court 8th Division

Tenure

2023 - Present

Term ends

2027

Years in position

3

Predecessor: David P. Bowles

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Report an officeholder change

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 8, 2022

Next election

November 3, 2026

Education

High school

School for Creative and Performing Arts at Lafayette High School

Bachelor's

University of Louisville College of Arts and Sciences, 2002

Law

University of Louisville, Brandeis School of Law, 2005

Personal

Profession

Judge

Contact

Campaign website

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Karen Faulkner is a judge of the Kentucky 30th District Court 8th Division. She assumed office on January 2, 2023. Her current term ends on January 4, 2027.

Faulkner is running for re-election for judge of the Kentucky 30th District Court 8th Division. The primary for this office on May 19, 2026, was canceled.

Faulkner completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Karen Faulkner was born in Lexington, Kentucky and lives in Louisville, Kentucky. She graduated from the School for Creative and Performing Arts at Lafayette High School. She earned a B.A. in English language and literature from the University of Louisville in 2002 and a J.D. from the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville in 2005. Faulkner's career experience includes working as an attorney at her own practice, Faulkner Kaelin Law Office, adjunct professor at the University of Louisville, Brandeis School of Law, public defender, victim's advocate for the Center for Women and Families, and a pro bono attorney in the field of expungements for the Legal Aid Society.

Elections

2026

See also: City elections in Louisville, Kentucky (2026)

General election

The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

General election for Kentucky 30th District Court 8th Division

Incumbent Karen Faulkner (Nonpartisan) and Jonathan Max Allen (Nonpartisan) are running in the general election for Kentucky 30th District Court 8th Division on November 3, 2026.

		Candidate
		Karen Faulkner (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Jonathan Max Allen (Nonpartisan)

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
= 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

The primary scheduled for May 19, 2026, was canceled. Incumbent Karen Faulkner (Nonpartisan) and Jonathan Max Allen (Nonpartisan) advanced from the primary for Kentucky 30th District Court 8th Division without appearing on the ballot.

Endorsements

To view Faulkner's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. To send us an endorsement, click here.

2022

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

General election

General election for Kentucky 30th District Court 8th Division

Karen Faulkner defeated Jessica Stone in the general election for Kentucky 30th District Court 8th Division on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Karen Faulkner (Nonpartisan)	50.6	99,361
		Jessica Stone (Nonpartisan)	48.8	95,764
		Other/Write-in votes	0.6	1,255

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 196,380
= 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.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Kentucky 30th District Court 8th Division

Karen Faulkner and Jessica Stone defeated Lindsay Beets in the primary for Kentucky 30th District Court 8th Division on May 17, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Karen Faulkner (Nonpartisan)	47.3	50,468
✔		Jessica Stone (Nonpartisan)	31.0	33,129
	Submit photo	Lindsay Beets (Nonpartisan)	21.7	23,176

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 106,773
= 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.

Endorsements

To view Faulkner's endorsements in the 2022 election, please click here.

2018

General election

General election for Kentucky 30th District Court 9th Division

Tanisha Hickerson won election in the general election for Kentucky 30th District Court 9th Division on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tanisha Hickerson (Nonpartisan)	100.0	172,686

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 172,686 (100.00% precincts reporting)
= 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.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Daniel Alvarez (Nonpartisan)
• Karen Faulkner (Nonpartisan)

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Kentucky 30th District Court 9th Division

Daniel Alvarez, Tanisha Hickerson, and Karen Faulkner defeated incumbent Andre L. Bergeron in the primary for Kentucky 30th District Court 9th Division on May 22, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Daniel Alvarez (Nonpartisan)	30.7	28,694
✔		Tanisha Hickerson (Nonpartisan)	24.0	22,470
✔		Karen Faulkner (Nonpartisan)	24.0	22,453
	Submit photo	Andre L. Bergeron (Nonpartisan)	21.2	19,830

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 93,447
= 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.

Selection method

See also: Nonpartisan election of judges

The judges of the Kentucky District Courts are elected in nonpartisan elections. They serve four-year terms and must run for re-election if they wish to serve again.

Qualifications
To serve on this court, a judge must be:

• a U.S. citizen;
• a resident of the represented district for at least two years; and
• licensed to practice law for at least two years.

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Karen Faulkner completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Faulkner's responses.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Judge Faulkner has served on the criminal, juvenile, and probate dockets in her current term and volunteers as a Teen Court judge, a diversion program for low-level juvenile offenders. Judge Faulkner presides on a volunteer basis over the Amnesty dockets, clearing old warrants burdening the system and the community, and as an Unlawful Camping judge, providing necessary services to the homeless community. Before taking the bench, Judge Faulkner was a public defender for both juveniles and adults and then she started her own firm focused on criminal law. In private practice she continued to prioritize public service as a conflict attorney for the Department of Public Advocacy (DPA) and the Federal Defender, serving as a GAL on the Neglect and Abuse Docket, and handling pro-bono expungements through her firm and through the Legal Aid Society. A few of her awards include "Excellence in Advocacy" from DPA, the "Gail Robinson Juvenile Justice Award" from the Kentucky Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the "Top Lawyer" award as voted by her peers for five consecutive years. When she is not on the bench she volunteers for several JCPS pre-law programs, coaches Manual's Mock Trial Team, and teaches "Trial Practice" at the Brandeis School of Law. Judge Faulkner is a wife and mom to two wonderful boys, Liam and Leo, who support her and motivate her to make everyone's community a better place.

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?

• Fairness and justice in the court system for both the victims and the accused by supporting programs such as restorative justice, creating a space for voice within the courtroom for all, and focusing on sentencing alternatives when appropriate to prevent recidivism.
• Progress in Court by improving the efficiency and access to the courts, utilizing bail alternatives, and supporting specialty courts such as Drug Court, Mental Health Court, and the Unlawful Camping docket.
• Creating confidence in the Courts and its rulings by promoting transparency and serving as a leader within the community and in the courtroom.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

A Judge is bound by the Judicial Code of Ethics not to speak about matters that may appear before the Court for a ruling.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

See link for endorsements

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.

2022

Video for Ballotpedia

Video submitted to Ballotpedia Released May 12, 2022

Karen Faulkner completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Faulkner's responses.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I have sixteen years’ experience as an attorney in all aspects of District Court as well as Circuit, Family and Federal Courts. I practiced as a public defender for 6.5 years before opening up my own law office where I continue criminal defense, civil and family law. I continue to accept pro bono and low fee cases from the PD and the Legal Aide in my commitment to provide legal representation to all. This work has given me extensive jury and bench trial experience at all State court levels and a deep understanding of the cases that will come through District Court. I have earned numerous awards as an attorney including being voted "Top Lawyer" by my peers for five consecutive years. I have also served as an adjunct professor at the UofL Brandeis School of Law in 2013 and 2015. I devote my career to serving this community through hard-work and commitment to justice for all and will continue this dedication when I serve Jefferson County as your next District Court Judge.

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?

• Everyone should be treated with Fairness in the Court system.
• We need to support alternative resolutions and treatment options, including Restorative Justice, Treatment Courts, and other ways to curb recitivism.
• Access to the Courts and transparency within the system should become a focus and the norm.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I believe in fairness and progress in the Court system. Every individual that enters my courtroom will be treated with respect whether they are the accused or a victim. I would like to foster the use of alternative resolutions including mental health court, drug court, veterans’ treatment court and restorative justice, and push to add and expand these services, including bringing them into juvenile court to assist with our at-risk youth. I believe in restoring faith in our Judiciary by opening courts up and removing barriers to court access such as lengthy delays in obtaining court dates, part-time courts, and minimal office hours. I pledge to be available to the community and all members of the bar. I further would like to continue the use of technology as an option to assist in access for observers and those involved in cases in order to improve attendance and promote participation. Fairness and progress in our District Court, creates Justice for All in our community.

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

District Court is the Court system that most people in our community are likely to interact with. When asked the question, "What kind of cases does District Court hear?", the list is extensive. District Court handles traffic cases, expungements, and minor misdemeanors, but also handles the preliminary hearings on felony cases, which determine if the case should remain in District Court or be moved up to Circuit Court. District Court is also covers Juvenile Court a confidential criminal docket for Juveniles. Probate Court is handled by the District Court Bench, for all wills and estates and guardianship issues, among others and Mental Inquest Court, if a loved one needs hospitalization due to a mental health need. Small Claims, for low dollar civil suits is also under District Court. And finally, District Court handles several specialty courts, such as Mental Health Treatment Court, Drug Court, and Veterans Treatment Court where Defendants are given treatment and an opportunity to rebuild after the crisis that brought them to Court. The jurisdiction of this Court is vast and will most likely affect you, a friend, or loved one over any other Court.

How would you describe your legal philosophy?

I believe in fairness and progress in the Court system. Every individual that enters my courtroom will be treated with respect whether they are the accused or a victim. I would like to foster the use of alternative resolutions including mental health court, drug court, veterans’ treatment court and restorative justice, and push to add and expand these services, including bringing them into juvenile court to assist with our at-risk youth. I believe in restoring faith in our Judiciary by opening courts up and removing barriers to court access such as lengthy delays in obtaining court dates, part-time courts, and minimal office hours. I pledge to be available to the community and all members of the bar. I further would like to continue the use of technology as an option to assist in access for observers and those involved in cases in order to improve attendance and promote participation. Fairness and progress in our District Court, creates Justice for All in our community.

Is there a particular judge, past or present, whom you admire?

I have great esteem for our newest Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first black woman and first former public defender to serve on the Supreme Court. Justice Brown Jackson represents a career dedicated to service to our country. Her recent confirmation hearings showed her character and judicial temperament, calmly and caringly addressing numerous questions with poise and grace, and she deserves the highest respect she has earned. As a former public defender, myself, I admire the perspective she brings to the bench, a voice for the people, and know this experience shaped her as a Jurist. Justice Brown Jackson also served on the United States Sentencing Commission, reviewing and enacting real change to the Federal Sentencing Guidelines and addressing racial disparities created by the crack-cocaine penalties. As a Judge she rendered numerous opinions, thoughtfully applying the law, and ruling fairly, even if it was unpopular, making her a fair and respected Judge.

Do you believe that empathy is an important quality for a judge?

Empathy is extremely important from the bench, for both the victim and the accused and further applying that empathy into a creative solution or ruling, when possible. A District Court is tasked with following and applying the law, however, and this must take precedence.

Have you ever been rated by a Bar Association? If so, what was the rating?

I was ranked 83% Highly Qualified or Qualified in my race for District Court Judge. I received 277 votes ranking me as “Highly Qualified” (150) or “Qualified” (127), which was the highest of every single candidate running for District Court. In fact, I received the most votes in each category of every single candidate running for District Court, from the total votes cast.

What is your primary concern about today's legal system in your state?

The highest priority facing our judicial system is funding. Our Judiciary is not just made up of the Judges that serve on the bench, but the Sheriffs who work in our court rooms, the clerks who process the cases, the Corrections Officers who work in the jail, and many other Judicial partners. Many of our judicial partners, are struggling to maintain employees, are suffering with a resource crisis, and are over-worked and underpaid. This ultimately affects the ability to offer services to our Courts and those who interact with the system. While I can’t address this completely, I will focus on bettering how the overall system works. I would advocate for our legislature to prioritize funding of our court system and support our treatment court options. I will work with my colleagues to take a smart approach to Court access and scheduling. And I would work closely with our Judicial partners to ensure their role is respected and their concerns are heard.

Do you believe that Bar Association ratings are an accurate reflection of a judge’s ability?

I do think that the Bar Association Poll accurately reflects that I have the experience, expertise, and qualifications to serve as a District Court Judge, though the percentages are calculated from votes cast for each candidate, so they are not as accurate at looking at the total votes. Those totals are outlined in the previous question. Some candidates received a "do not know candidate" or no answer which does not affect the percentage.

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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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