Kramer to retire after 15 years on Kentucky Court of Appeals

Judge Kramer has 29 years of public service.

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FRANKFORT, Ky., June 11, 2021 – After serving 15 years on the Kentucky Court of Appeals, Judge Joy A. Kramer will retire Sept. 1. She was first elected in 2006 to serve the 21 counties in Division 2 of the 6th Appellate District and was re-elected in 2014.

“It has truly been an honor to serve on the Court of Appeals,” Judge Kramer said. “During my time on the court, I have diligently worked to apply the law fairly to all parties. I want to thank the citizens of the 6th Appellate District and my supporters for putting their trust in me to do so. It was a tremendous responsibility and I took it seriously every day and in every respect.

“I am grateful for my time on the court and the judges I have served with,” she said. “I especially want to thank my outstanding staff for their diligent work throughout the years. It takes a team to render timely decisions and run an efficient office, using tax payer dollars wisely.”

In 2016, Judge Kramer was elected by her fellow Court of Appeals judges to a two-year term as chief judge, a position that provides administrative oversight to the Courts of Appeals. She has served on numerous committees on the court and worked to improve how the court functions, particularly regarding cases involving children.

“Joy Kramer understands the profound responsibility of resolving what, for the concerned parties, are momentous and often life-altering dilemmas,” fellow Court of Appeals Judge Glenn E. Acree said. “In her faith, prayers for judicial relief come from her brothers and sisters in Christ. Irrespective of the party’s own faith, her approach served each of them very well. I will greatly miss my colleague and friend on this court. Her industry, intellect and insight are unsurpassed. It will be difficult to succeed Judge Kramer and impossible to replace her.”

Judge Kramer has 29 years of public service. She was a special education teacher before attending law school. Prior to being elected to the Court of Appeals, she was chief law clerk for William O. Bertelsman, senior judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and staff attorney for Court of Appeals Judges Daniel T. Guidugli and Robert W. Dyche III.

“I’ve had the privilege to serve beside Judge Kramer for the last eight years,” Court of Appeals Judge Allison Jones said. “She has been a mentor to me and numerous other judges on the court. Judge Kramer possesses all of the qualities of the best judges – an inquisitive mind, a keen intellect, independence, compassion, a fierce work ethic and, most importantly, an unwavering commitment to due process. Her diligent work has improved our jurisprudence as well as our administrative processes. Her retirement will leave a hole in the fabric of our court as well as the commonwealth at large. While I will deeply miss serving alongside her, I will endeavor to live up to her high ideals. I wish Judge Kramer much success as she begins the next chapter of her professional and personal life.”  

Because this vacancy will occur outside of the election cycle, a Judicial Nominating Commission will meet to fill it by appointment.