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June 1, 2009

Knox Chamber hosts Judge Caperton

Ivy Brashear / Staff Writer

The Knox County Chamber of Commerce hosted Kentucky Court of Appeals Judge Mike Caperton at its monthly meeting Tuesday at Union College.

Caperton was the district judge for Knox and Laurel counties for 14 years before being elected to the Kentucky Court of Appeals in 2007. He spoke with the group about how the Court of Appeals works and how it operates differently than district court.

Caperton reminded the chamber that a judge is elected to uphold the “values and discretion” of the people he serves, and, he said, that is what he has always tried to accomplish.

He said working in district court caused his days to be packed with appointments and court times, and often, his job was very stressful.

Moving to the Court of Appeals, he said, was like “dropping into low range in a four-wheel drive car,” referring to the fact that his job on the Court of Appeals brings far less stress than his previous job.

“I miss everyone I worked with (in district court), but you get worn with routine over the years,” Caperton said. He also mentioned that not being at work so much allowed him to spend more time with his two daughters.

Like most other judges on the Court of Appeals, Caperton doesn’t have an office in Frankfort. His office is currently located in London on the second floor of the National City Bank.

Caperton spoke about how much free time he now has as a judge on the Court of Appeals, and how that free time makes his job more reclusive than being in the public eye as a district judge.

“There’s no reason for anyone to come to my office unless they want to go to Starbuck’s for coffee,” Caperton said.

As with any other job, Caperton said there is a certain level of pressure felt by him and his staff.

“What I write will be read by attorneys all over the state,” Caperton said. That’s why he and his staff edit and revise the opinions he writes numerous times before they are finalized.

He said that working on appeals to the law and writing opinions about laws that need changing is his way of “shaping the law” and is how the law “grows.”

He mentioned that is one of his favorite parts about his job.

Caperton said he came to the Knox County Chamber of Commerce meeting to inform business people and community members of his district about how a Court of Appeals works and operates.

“I would like for them (business people and community members) to understand the workings of the court, because they are the very ones that need to know how it works,” Caperton said

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