Kentucky Considering Business Courts Pilot Program

In his November 2018 State of the Judiciary Address, Kentucky Chief Justice John D. Minton, Jr. reported that a Civil Justice Reform Commission had been created, chaired by Deputy Chief Justice Lisabeth T. Hughes. The Commission’s membership includes “representation from all sectors of the bench and bar.”

Justice Minton further observed that the commission recommended creating a business courts pilot program:

“At its initial meeting in August [2018], the commission recommended that the Supreme Court develop a business courts pilot project in one or more jurisdictions. Business courts are designated sections, dockets or divisions of Circuit Court designed to hear complex commercial cases and business disputes. These are not professional negligence or personal injury cases filed by an individual against a corporation or commercial entity. Rather, business courts focus solely on business versus business disputes.”

A copy of Justice Minton’s address can be found here.

The commission is analyzing court data to determine the best venue(s) for Kentucky’s business courts pilot project.  Deputy Chief Justice Hughes, as “chairwoman of the Civil Justice Reform Commission … is spearheading the implementation of Business Court in Kentucky.”

Posted by Lee Applebaum