Kentucky Supreme Court elections

There are seven justices on the Kentucky Supreme Court. For more information about these elections, visit the Kentucky judicial elections page.

Judicial selection

See also: Judicial selection in Kentucky

The seven justices of the Kentucky Supreme Court are elected to eight-year terms in nonpartisan elections. They must run for re-election if they wish to serve subsequent terms.^[1]

Qualifications

To serve on the Kentucky Supreme Court, the judge must be:

“

a citizen of the United States,
a resident of both the Commonwealth, and of the district from which he is elected for two years next preceding his taking office,
licensed to practice law in the courts of the Commonwealth, and
a licensed attorney for at least eight years.^[2]^[3]^[4]

”

Chief justice

The chief justice of the court is chosen by peer vote. He or she serves in that capacity for four years.^[1]

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state supreme courts

If a midterm vacancy occurs, the governor appoints a successor from a list of three names provided by the Kentucky Judicial Nominating Commission. If the term the appointee will fill expires at the next election, the appointment is for the remainder of the term. If the term does not expire at the next election and that election is more than three months away, the appointee must stand for election, and the election is for the remainder of the unexpired term. If the term does not expire at the next election, but the election is less than three months away, the appointee must stand for election in the election following the next. The election is for the remainder of the unexpired term, if any; if none of the term is left, the election is for a full term.^[1]

The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country.

Elections

Kentucky Supreme Court 1st District

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

Kentucky Supreme Court 2nd District

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

Kentucky Supreme Court 4th District

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

Kentucky Supreme Court 6th District

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

Kentucky Supreme Court 7th District

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

Kentucky Supreme Court 3rd District

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

Kentucky Supreme Court 5th District

General election

General election for Kentucky Supreme Court 5th District

Pamela R. Goodwine (Nonpartisan) defeated Erin Izzo (Nonpartisan) in the general election for Kentucky Supreme Court 5th District on November 5, 2024.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Pamela R. Goodwine (Nonpartisan)	76.9	183,821
	Erin Izzo (Nonpartisan)	23.1	55,085

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 238,906
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Nonpartisan primary

The primary scheduled for May 21, 2024, was canceled. Pamela R. Goodwine (Nonpartisan) and Erin Izzo (Nonpartisan) advanced from the primary for Kentucky Supreme Court 5th District without appearing on the ballot.