Mercer County Circuit Court, Kentucky Chambers Communication Rules

CRITICAL

If a case settles, the parties must notify the Court and Circuit Clerk before 3:30 p.m. on the day before trial.

Parties shall notify the Court and the Circuit Clerk prior to 3:30 p.m. on the day before the case is schedule for trial if they settle a case, so jurors will not have to be summoned.

CRITICAL

After regular business hours, an authorized agency or officer must present a petition to any serving District Judge, Trial Commissioner, Family Court Judge, or Circuit Judge in Kentucky.

Upon receipt of a petition after regular business hours, the authorized agency/officer shall present the petition to: Any serving District Judge, District Court Trial Commissioner, Family Court Judge or Circuit Judge of the Commonwealth of Kentucky

CRITICAL

After normal working hours, law enforcement or CHFS must immediately contact a specified judge or the Trial Commissioner upon receiving an ECO affidavit.

After normal working hours, law enforcement and/or CHFS shall contact the Family Court Judge, District Court Judge or Trial Commissioner of this Circuit immediately upon the receipt of an ECO affidavit.

CRITICAL

During regular business hours, an authorized agency or officer must present a petition first to a District Judge or Trial Commissioner and follow the stated sequence if that judicial officer is unavailable.

Upon receipt of a petition during regular business hours, the authorized agency/officer shall present the petition to the following: The petition shall be presented first to the District Judge or District Court Trial Commissioner. If the District Judge or Trial Commissioner is unavailable, the petition shall be presented to the Family Court Judge. If the Family Court Judge is unavailable, the petition shall be presented to the Circuit Judge. If all judges in the Circuit and District are unavailable, the petition shall be presented to any judge in the Commonwealth for consideration.

WARNING

Parties must agree on deposition dates, times, and locations; disputes may be submitted to the Court, and depositions may not occur on weekends or holidays absent prior agreement among counsel.

The date, time, and location for all depositions shall be scheduled by agreement of the parties. In the event of a dispute, the matter may be submitted to the Court for resolution. No depositions shall be taken on any Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, except upon prior agreement among counsel.

WARNING

To schedule a matter for Circuit Motion Hour, the movant must contact the Circuit Clerk in the county where the hearing will take place.

To set a matter for hearing on the Court's Circuit Motion Hour, the movant shall contact the Circuit Clerk in the county where the Hearing will be held.

WARNING

The parties must notify the Clerk as soon as possible if a hearing is no longer needed.

The parties shall notify the Clerk at the earliest time possible that there no longer exists a need for a hearing.

WARNING

The filing party must notify the Circuit Judge and Clerk directly of any motion withdrawal or remand, or hearing cancellation, and all parties must agree.

Any withdrawal or remand of motions or cancellation of hearings shall be made by the filing party directly to the Circuit Judge and to the Clerk and must be by agreement of all parties.

WARNING

Unless otherwise specified, counsel must meet in chambers at 8:00 a.m. on the day of trial to discuss preliminary matters, motions, and jury instructions.

Unless otherwise specified, counsel shall meet in chambers at 8:00 a.m. on the day of trial to discuss preliminary matters, motions, and jury instructions.

WARNING

Contact

Phone to chambers

Phone

859-239-7090

Schedule other cases within the Court’s jurisdiction by appointment through the Judge’s Office, which may be contacted by phone.

Adoptions and other cases not specifically listed but also within the Court's jurisdiction shall be scheduled as needed by appointment through the Judge's Office. The Boyle County Office may be reached at 859-239-7090 and the Mercer County Office at 859-

INFO

Contact

Email to chambers

Parties may email motions to the Circuit Judge before the hearing for information, but the Court will not recognize them until the original is received and entered in the record by the appropriate Circuit Clerk.

Parties may e-mail or fax motions to the Circuit Judge prior to the hearing date for informational purposes, but e-mailed or faxed motions shall not be recognized by the Court until the original is received and entered in the record by the appropriate Circuit Clerk.

INFO

Petitioners seeking to initiate contempt proceedings should contact the circuit court clerk in the county where the protective order was issued.

Petitioners seeking to initiate contempt proceedings should contact: The Circuit Court Clerk in the county in which the protective order was issued.

INFO

An attorney seeking placement on either county's GAL list should contact the Judge's office.

An attorney that wishes to be placed on the GAL list for either county should contact the Judge's office for inclusion on the list.

INFO

If both parties agree to mediate using court mediation, they may contact the judge's office to schedule a mediation date.

If both parties otherwise agree to mediate and wish to use court mediation, they may contact the judge's office to set up a mediation date.

INFO

B. Petitioners seeking to initiate contempt proceedings should contact: The Circuit Court Clerk in the county in which the protective order was issued.

B. Petitioners seeking to initiate contempt proceedings should contact: The Circuit Court Clerk in the county in which the protective order was issued.