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Judge Tom Emberton honored with building name

'He would indeed be humbled by such an honor'

Frankfort, KY - April 10, 2024 - The Metcalfe County Judicial Center in Edmonton will be renamed in honor of former Chief Court of Appeals Judge Tom Emberton (ret.), who passed away in 2022. A bronze statue of Judge Emberton will be erected on the grounds of the judicial center.

As a celebration of his life, the Kentucky General Assembly recently authorized the statue and renaming of the judicial center to the Tom Emberton Metcalfe County Judicial Center in the Judicial Branch biennial budget for fiscal years 2024-2026. The governor signed the budget bill April 9.

Judge Emberton was a noted leader and statesman, serving his country and the commonwealth. Following a four-year tour of duty in the U.S. Air Force, he earned his bachelor's degree at Western Kentucky University and his juris doctor at the University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law.


"The naming of the Metcalfe County Judicial Center for Judge Tom Emberton is especially meaningful to me since I served with him on the Kentucky Court of Appeals," Chief Justice of the Commonwealth Laurance B. VanMeter said. "I consider Tom Emberton a great, great man. I have had a number of wonderful mentors in my career who taught me how to be a lawyer and how to be a judge. But I feel like I learned something more from Tom Emberton: how to carry oneself with honor, grace and dignity. Hopefully, I had learned some of those lessons from my parents, but Judge Emberton did so as a public official. He exemplified the qualities to which all public officials should aspire."

Judge Emberton began in the private practice of law in 1962 in Edmonton, where he was elected Metcalfe County Attorney two years later. He went on to become the Republican candidate for Kentucky governor in 1971. He was appointed as a Court of Appeals judge in 1989 and subsequently elected to the position twice. He served as chief judge from 2002 until his retirement in 2004.

"Not only was he instrumental in my career, but a great friend; the humblest person I ever met," Metcalfe County Circuit Court Clerk Tommy Garrett said.

Judge Emberton passed away at age 89 after saving his wife, Julia Emberton, from a fire at their home.

The couple's daughter, Laura Emberton Owens, said Judge Emberton's family "is very grateful for the tribute bestowed on our father by the renaming of the Metcalfe County Courthouse."

"He would indeed be humbled by such an honor," she said. "His love for Metcalfe County and the judicial system was reflected in his efforts to help design the [Cass R. Walden] courtroom and use wood from the family farm to craft pieces throughout. This gesture along with the commissioned bronze statue to be placed in front of the courthouse will memorialize someone who I believe epitomized the qualities of a public servant."

The AOC will work with Metcalfe County leaders to plan for the judicial center renaming and statue.

Court of Appeals
Nearly all cases heard by the Kentucky Court of Appeals come to it on appeal from a lower court. If a case is tried in Circuit Court or District Court and the losing parties involved are not satisfied with the outcome, they may ask for a higher court to review the correctness of the trial court's decision. Some cases, such as criminal case acquittals and divorces, may not be appealed. In a divorce case, however, child custody and property rights decisions may be appealed. Cases are not retried in the Court of Appeals. Only the record of the original court trial is reviewed, with attorneys presenting the legal issues to the court for a decision.

Fourteen judges, two elected from seven appellate court districts, serve on the Court of Appeals for eight-year terms. The judges are divided into panels of three to review and decide cases, with the majority determining the decision. The panels do not sit permanently in one location but travel throughout the state to hear cases.

Administrative Office of the Courts
As the operations arm of the state court system, the AOC executes the Judicial Branch budget and oversees the construction and maintenance of Kentucky court facilities statewide. The AOC is based in Frankfort and supports the activities of nearly 3,300 employees and 413 elected justices, judges and circuit court clerks.


This story was posted on 2024-04-11 23:06:21
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Hometown will honor Judge Emberton with naming



2024-04-11 .

Metcalfe County native, Judge Tom Emberton, began in the private practice of law in 1962 in Edmonton, where he was elected Metcalfe County Attorney two years later.

He went on to become the Republican candidate for Kentucky governor in 1971. He was appointed as a Court of Appeals judge in 1989 and subsequently elected to the position twice.

He served as chief judge from 2002 until his retirement in 2004.

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