Judge of the Court of Appeals, 5th Appellate District - Division 1

Judge Lucy VanMeter has served as a Fayette Circuit Court Judge since 2018. Before taking the bench, she was an equity partner at Stoll Keenon Ogden, where she practiced law from 2001 to 2018. She has appeared before every level of Kentucky's state court system and handled cases in more than 50 counties. A University of Kentucky Rosenberg College of Law graduate, with honors, Judge VanMeter has the judgment, proven record, and experience that matters on the Court of Appeals.

Judge Lucy Ferguson VanMeter brings nearly 25 years of experience in Kentucky's state court system as both a trial judge and practicing attorney. She has handled virtually every type of case that comes before the Court of Appeals, presided over civil and criminal matters, and practiced before every level of Kentucky's state courts. This is the experience that matters when serving the people of Kentucky on the Court of Appeals.

The Court of Appeals must apply the law fairly, consistently, and without bias while resolving cases efficiently and maintaining public confidence in an independent judiciary. Because the Court reviews decisions from Kentucky's trial courts, it benefits from judges with deep experience in the state court system who understand the issues before them and faithfully apply the law as written.

Judge VanMeter will bring her experience and commitment to public service to the Court of Appeals. Her rules for service as a trial judge have been—and will continue to be—to be prepared and on time, listen to the parties, apply the law and Constitution as written, rule promptly, and ensure every proceeding is fair. Those principles, combined with her experience, will guide every decision she makes.

While the Court of Appeals is not a policymaking body, judges play an important role in maintaining public trust. If elected, Judge VanMeter will continue to treat every person with fairness and respect, issue timely and well-reasoned decisions, and uphold the law with transparency and integrity. An accessible, impartial judiciary helps ensure Kentuckians have confidence in their justice system.

I currently serve as a Judge on the Court of Appeals (5th District), having been appointed to the position by Gov. Andy Beshear in April 2025. I am running to retain the position.

I began my career after college as a Navy fighter pilot, and continue serving as a Captain in the U.S. Navy Reserve.

Prior to my appointment to the bench, I worked for the U.S. Department of Justice–first in the Antitrust Division from Washington, DC, where I primarily prosecuted bid-rigging and price-fixing criminal cases around the eastern U.S., and then in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Lexington as a prosecutor in the fraud division, handling mostly financial crimes.

During law school, I clerked for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, and after law school I clerked for a federal judge on the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.

On the bench, my appellate docket has included criminal, civil, and family law cases, as well as workers’ compensation matters. Since joining the Court of Appeals, I have authored more than 35 opinions.

I currently hold the office, having been appointed by Gov. Andy Beshear to fill a vacancy left by Judge Pamela Goodwine’s election to the Kentucky Supreme Court.

Prior to my current appellate judge role, I worked for two federal appellate courts as a law clerk (for more than 3 years) – handling complex appellate issues. As an Asst. U.S. Attorney, I handled multiple federal criminal appeals before the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.

Academic background:

South Laurel High School Valedictorian

Harvard University, BA in Economics, magna cum laude; George Washington University, JD, with high honors; Masters in Strategic Studies, U.S. Army War College, with distinction.

I bring a lifetime of public service experience–both legal and military–with me to the Court of Appeals. My non-traditional background (law was a second career), helps me understand the everyday concerns of non-lawyers when they interact with the court system.

Specialty court funding should be preserved. While my role only has an indirect voice in preserving veterans’ treatment courts, drug courts, and mental health courts – I plan to advocate strongly for them as they benefit our community.

Courts should always remain non-partisan, so the public can trust that our judicial system applies the law without partisan bias, and be as transparent as possible (including with financial disclosures), so the public understands when conflicts may arise.

Courts have a vital function as a co-equal branch of government and must not be timid about asserting our constitutional role when challenged by either the legislative or executive branches.

Judges don’t run on specific platforms. I will continue to approach each case with the fairness, impartiality, and the combat-tested judgment that I’ve built over the course of my career. In doing so, I will always strive to apply the law fairly and render timely and well-reasoned decisions.

Many citizens participate in the court system through jury service. Right now, Kentucky has one of the lowest compensation rates for jurors ($12.50 per day), making that participation a hardship for many. I intend to advocate strongly with the legislature that this amount be raised and indexed for inflation.