Kentucky Constitution Articles 6. The Judiciary
Kentucky Constitution – Article VI: The Judiciary
There seems to be a common misconception here:
Under the Kentucky Constitution, Article VI does not deal with the judiciary. Instead:
The Judiciary is addressed in Section 109 to Section 124 of the Kentucky Constitution, but these sections are part of no single titled “Article VI.”
The Kentucky Constitution is structured by Sections, not primarily by numbered Articles with topical titles like "The Judiciary."
🔹 Kentucky Constitution – The Judicial Department (Sections 109–124):
This group of sections outlines the structure and powers of the judicial branch of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
🔸 Key Components:
Section 109 – Vesting of Judicial Power
Judicial power is vested in a unified court system, including:
Supreme Court
Court of Appeals
Circuit Courts
District Courts
Section 110 – Supreme Court
Highest court in the state.
Composed of 7 justices elected from districts.
Has appellate jurisdiction and limited original jurisdiction.
Chief Justice selected by peer vote.
Section 111 – Court of Appeals
Intermediate appellate court.
Judges elected; court reviews decisions from lower courts.
Section 112 – Circuit Courts
General jurisdiction trial courts.
Handle major civil and criminal cases.
Section 113 – District Courts
Limited jurisdiction trial courts.
Handle misdemeanors, traffic offenses, small claims, etc.
Section 114–116 – Jurisdiction & Appellate Procedures
Define how cases move between courts.
Supreme Court has final authority unless U.S. constitutional issues are involved.
Section 117 – Election and Terms of Judges
Judges are elected in nonpartisan elections.
Terms:
Supreme Court & Court of Appeals: 8 years
Circuit Court: 8 years
District Court: 4 years
Section 118 – Qualifications for Judges
Must be U.S. and Kentucky citizens, licensed attorneys with specific years of experience.
Section 121 – Judicial Conduct Commission
Established to investigate and discipline judges for misconduct.
Section 124 – Administrative Authority
The Chief Justice oversees the administration of the court system.
✅ Summary:
Although Kentucky does not label its Judiciary provisions under “Article VI,” the Judicial Department is fully described in Sections 109–124 of the Constitution. These sections define the structure, jurisdiction, qualifications, elections, and oversight of all Kentucky courts.
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