Published: May 12, 2008 04:18 pm            

Minton seeks stability in court system

Sees no political agenda by justices

FRANKFORT, Ky. — John Minton says his personality is suited to be a judge – now he’s going to be the Chief Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court, elected by fellow justices to that “high honor” Monday.



Minton, 56, of Bowling Green, said he wants to sustain the innovations of his predecessors and to “strengthen the confidence of the public in the court of justice and the integrity and honor of the court.” He said he plans no changes in Family Court, Drug Court or the program to build new judicial centers, although the budget may affect the pace of the construction.



He succeeds Joseph E. Lambert, 59, who is retiring effective June 27, the day on which Minton will be sworn in. Minton said he will use the time between now and then to work with Lambert on a transition and learn the operations of the Administrative Office of the Courts which employs 4,000 people in Kentucky’s 120 counties. But Minton, who served as Circuit Judge in Warren County for 11 years before being elected to the Court of Appeals and later joining the Supreme Court, said he is familiar with the system and knows many of its employees.



Minton is third in tenure on a court (after Lambert and Deputy Chief Justice Wil T. Scott) which has seen turnover and a measure of controversy in recent years.



“This court is different from its predecessors,” Minton said. “Each of its members is interested in the administration of the court of justice. And I think that helps.” He lauded the variety of experience of his fellow justices and said they work well together – “We’re a collegial court and we do it in a respectful way.”



Critics have charged the court, under Lambert, became embroiled in some political controversies. Minton said he believes his colleagues share his wish to ensure “the public has the utmost faith in this court.” He wants to assure the public and the other two branches of government that the court system operates in “a fair way, in an apolitical way.”



But Minton said during his time on the court, that’s always been the case.



“When we go into a conference room, there is no Republican or Democrat,” said Minton, a registered Democrat. “I’ve never detected in any of the deliberations of the court any political agenda.”



He’s concerned about the tight budget and the impact of “the scarcity of resources” which could limit the Administrative Office of the Courts’ ability to employ replacements for expected retirees and to compensate employees adequately. That’s on top of expected layoffs in prosecutors’ offices and by the Office of Public Advocacy which could make it more difficult to provide constitutionally guaranteed fair trials.



Minton expects to get along with the legislature, which must approve the court system’s budget. Minton said he’s known for many years Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, who has criticized the court from time to time. But Minton wants to find a way to continue the Senior Status Judge program which the legislature allowed to expire this year and which has been criticized for its costs, for the “double-dipping” of retired judges who draw a salary for serving while still drawing retirement.



“The perception is that it provides too rich a retirement policy, and it bears some careful examination,” Minton said. “But it would be a shame to lose the talent of seasoned judges if there is a way to fashion a program that is acceptable.” He said otherwise, sitting judges must leave their own busy dockets to serve as special judges when another judge is ill or has a conflict.



Minton thinks the ambitious courthouse building program initiated by Lambert will continue, although perhaps at a slower pace given the tight fiscal picture. And he said he has no immediate plans to change the director of the AOC, Jason Nemes, appointed by Lambert.



“I believe Jason has done a good job as director,” Minton said. “We’ll be assessing that going forward but right now I don’t have any immediate plans (to change directors). Right now, my concern is stability.



“I want us to be able to continue to improve Kentucky’s courts so we can operate efficiently and deliver justice around the commonwealth,” Minton said. “I want us to operate in a way the public feels confident that issues before the court have been decided efficiently and fairly.”



Ronnie Ellis writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort, Ky. He may be contacted by email at rellis@cnhi.com.

        

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