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Jefferson County will soon lack any black judges

Activists push for new appointments



By Jason Riley ? jriley@courier-journal.com ? December 21, 2008



In early 1992, Janice Martin became the first black female judge in Kentucky and, at the time, the only African American on the bench in Jefferson County.



As she retires in January, along with Toni Stringer, another African-American district judge, Jefferson County will take a step back in time, Martin said.



At least for a little while, the county -- with a black population of 19 percent -- will have no African Americans among its 40 judges in circuit, district or family court.



"It is very disturbing and disheartening," Martin said. "Seventeen years later we're back at square zero."



But as many as seven seats are opening up in Jefferson district and circuit courts by the end of January with judges, including Martin and Stringer, retiring into Kentucky's senior status judge program, which provides sweetened retirement benefits if they agree to work part time for five years.