Chief Justice of Kentucky Supreme Court John Minton celebrates retirement

BOWLING GREEN, Ky.- After over three decades working in the court system, Chief Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court John Minton is finally hanging up his tie. 

“I’ve never been retired before so I’m not sure how it’s gonna work,” said Minton. 

Minton spent the first 15 years of his career in private practice, before running for Warren County Circuit Judge in the early 1990s. 

“I convinced my wife first that maybe we should try this and she finally got on board and the voters of Warren County allowed me to be elected,” said Minton. 

Minton served as a Court of Appeals judge from 2003 to 2006.

Later that year, he was elected to the Supreme Court of Kentucky. His fellow justices elected him as Chief Justice for four-year terms from 2008 to 2020. He was only the second Chief Justice in Kentucky to serve four terms. 

One of his biggest accomplishments as Chief Justice was raising the salary of judicial staff. 

“When compared to the legislative branch and the executive branch, the employees who run the courts day in and day out are paid less, by far a lot less, and that has changed and I hope it will change more,” said Minton. 

He also worked to modernize the court system’s technology from paper to an electronic record, which played a huge part in communication during Covid.

“It allowed the courts to adapt immediately and be able to take action for courts to still be functioning,” said John’s wife Susan Minton. 

His fellow colleagues say everyone has been touched in some way by Minton. 

“Our life has been intertwined, he is a very good man.”

Kelly Thompson will now assume his district seat on the Kentucky Supreme Court. 

“John Minton and I have known each other since childhood. We went to the same grade school, high school, college, law school, both practiced law here in Bowling Green. When he was elected to the Court of Appeals he defeated me,” said Thompson. 

Judge Thompson will be sworn in in January.