Every two years, the Louisville Bar Association publishes results of a survey of attorneys on the performance of sitting judges.
These results are interesting, but generate little public interest except when it comes to elections, when judicial candidates brag about their own records or criticize others.
So let's take a look at the results, with a special eye toward those judges running for re-election.
So let's cut to the chase. You're wondering what kind of job controversial judge Katie King is doing. She's running for re-election against former judge Jim Green. I've heard mixed reviews, from those who say she is beyond competent to critics who argue she doesn't know what she's doing. Based on these results, she's certainly got her critics.
With 138 attorneys responding to a questionnaire about King, 69 percent agreed with the statement "Does a Good Job Overall." That was second-lowest among a dozen District court judges evaluated.
Tops among sitting District Court judges were Donald Armstrong (96%) and David Bowles (95%). Annette Karem (65%) scored lower than King. None of those have opposition in the 2010 election.
King did a bit better in the Judicial Temperament category, scoring 82%. That beat Sean Delahanty (77%), Sheila Collins (81%) and Karem (69%). Collins will be opposed by Nichole Compton in the fall.
It's worth noting that under the category of senior status District Court judges, Paula Fitzgerald scored low marks of 36% and 57% in the 2 categories. Good thing she's not running for re-election.
Judges were graded on the court management skills, and in this one King, at 82%, was the lowest-rated District Court judge, except for the aforementioned Fitzgerald, who came in at 49%.
Then there's the judicial integrity category, which doesn't help Ms. King at all. It includes "engages in out-of-court conduct or activity which directly interferes with judicial effectiveness." And "Is affected by partisan interests in the conduct of the court." And "Lets personal relationship affect his/her judgment."
King scored just 68% on this one. Karem was next lowest at 80%. Even the despised Fitzgerald scored 75%.
And it goes downhill from there. In terms of legal ability, King scored 63%, down there with Karem (60%) and Fitzgerald (33%).
King also scored lowest (64%) in her handling of civil cases.
These numbers will likely come up again as King mounts her re-election campaign.
Ms. King is way too young and way too inexperienced to be a judge and it must be showing. Jefferson County deserves better and should have judges that are beyond ill-repute. It's too bad that money now buys judges in Kentucky and Ms King is a good example of how this works. But for her Daddy's money she wouldn't be sitting on the bench today making serious decisions that affect the lives and livelihoods of Jefferson County residents.
In response to "she is cute though." I don't believe her being cute would matter too much if she was making a decision about whether or not you were going to jail.
I've set in on a couple of her sessions before and thought she was very fair, and cordial, too. In both sessions her demeanor was in stark contrast to the Jefferson County Attorney's prosecutors who acted like they were seriously on loan from Hater-land.
That being said, I still don't buy the "unknowingly" part of the KREF-ruling.
Real surprise! She would have never won if it had not been for her daddy.
Speaking of her daddy, he would do just a crappy job as mayor if he was elected. Send these Kings back to the highlands now!
Every two years, the Louisville Bar Association publishes results of a survey of attorneys on the performance of sitting judges.
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Rick Redding