FIRST ON 40 – EXCLUSIVE: Warren Circuit Court Judge Steve Wilson will not seek re-election
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Warren Circuit Judge Steve Wilson has decided after nearly 20 years on the bench to hang up his robe when his term expires Jan. 3, 2023.
“One day somebody asked me if I was going to run for re-election, it comes up in a couple of months you know, time to petition, and I went home and asked Jane (Wilson’s wife), what she thought and surprisingly she looked at me and said ‘I’d rather you not run,” Wilson said in his courtroom at the Justice Center Monday afternoon.
“After supporting me in everything I’ve done for 40 years, I took that and decided I’m going to do something else. I’m going to turn another chapter,” he said.
While Wilson plans to leave the bench. He said he is not retiring.
“No, I’m not going to retire. COVID took care of me ever retiring because I had to stay home for 10 days, and Jane and I both decided I didn’t need to retire,” Wilson said.
Prior to becoming a judge, Wilson worked in private practice, served as an assistant Warren County Attorney under the late Mike Caudill for three years and served as the Warren County Commonwealth’s Attorney for 13 years.
“I didn’t plan on being commonwealth attorney. I didn’t plan on being a circuit judge. I’ve done this for, at that time, it will be 19 years.
“And I just think there’s just something else I want to do, something else I want to see, something I want to look at. I don’t know what that is right now, but I think I’ll find it,” Wilson said.
Current Warren County Commonwealth’s Attorney Chris Cohron worked under Wilson beginning in 2001 and took the helm in 2005.
“Judge Wilson has spent a career of public service both as commonwealth attorney and circuit judge. He will leave a lasting legacy of always seeking justice for all parties involved,” Cohron said.
When he’s not in the courtroom, Wilson is known for his sense of humor and his love of music and performing. He has performed in three local bands with the latest being Dizzorderly Conduct.
