News and Music Discovery
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Family Courts Continue Operation As Coronavirus Forces Judicial Closures

Nirowold
/
123rf stock photo

The spread of COVID-19 in Kentucky caused the state Supreme Court to order restrictions on judicial proceedings throughout the commonwealth. In-person hearings are largely suspended with judicial facilities closed to walk-in business. 

While many civil and criminal proceedings are rescheduled, hearings in Kentucky’s family courts are time sensitive and often involve violent situations. Family courts are a relatively new development in Kentucky’s judicial system. They are divisions of circuit court that deal with all family legal matters including adoption, divorce, custody and child support. 

Family courts handle domestic violence and child abuse cases that are dealt with on an emergency basis. Because of this, family court hearings must continue to be held throughout the course of the pandemic.

Jeff Alford is a Paducah attorney specializing in family law. He said family court judges throughout the region are adapting their dockets to accommodate social distancing guidelines. 

“They’ve really been making an effort to try to review the files and determine if matters can be heard by video conference or telephonic conference,” Alford said. 

According to the Kentucky Administrative Office of the Courts, the first family court began in Jefferson County in 1991. Since then, the program has expanded to 71 counties. A 2002 constitutional amendment on the ballot passed with more than 75% of the vote to make family court a permanent part of Kentucky’s constitution. Even though a majority of Kentucky counties have a family court division, some western Kentucky circuits have not received that judgeship yet. Alford said circuit and district court judges, including in Graves County and the river counties,  are also dealing with a family law caseload.

Marshall and Calloway counties comprise the 42nd judicial circuit. After the retirement of Judge Rob Mattingly in November, Governor Andy Beshear appointed Stephanie Perlow to the 42nd circuit’s family court judgeship on March 3. 

The Supreme Court administrative order to limit judicial services came weeks after her swearing in. Alford said Perlow is continuing the transition to her office while working to administer justice during a global pandemic. 

“I do not envy her position,” Alford said. “On the flipside, she also has a little bit of the benefit of having more of an open mind about it.”

Alford said some judges may be more complacent with the coronavirus situation, but Perlow’s fresh presence could allow for a better adjustment to the “new normal.” 

“To her credit, I think she’s been remarkably flexible,” Alford said of Perlow. 

Some attorneys are having a more difficult time adjusting to the technology-intensive requirements of serving in the legal profession through an international public health emergency, Alford said. 

“I’ve actually had to do some tech support for some other attorneys,” Alford recalled. “The legal profession is not one where people are often early adopters to technology.”

Kentuckians seeking to do business at a judicial facility will largely be barred from entering unless they are an attorney attending an emergency hearing or seeking an emergency protective order, interpersonal protective order, or custody order from a judge. 

Court filings should be made electronically or at a drop-off location outside the judicial building. Payments for court costs, fines, fees, and restitution can be made by mail or by calling the county circuit clerk’s office. 

You can read the full list of actions taken by the Kentucky Supreme Court in response to COVID-19 here.

Dalton York is a Morning Edition host and reporter for WKYU in Bowling Green. He is a graduate of Murray State University, where he majored in History with a minor in Nonprofit Leadership Studies. While attending Murray State, he worked as a student reporter at WKMS. A native of Marshall County, he is a proud product of his tight-knit community.
Related Content