Whitney Johns Appointed Judge Of 50th Judicial Circuit
The Harrodsburg Herald/Robert Moore
Whitney Johns was sworn in as judge of the the 50th Judicial Circuit, which encompasses Mercer and Boyle counties. Johns, accompanied by her family—James Johns, Silas Johns, Averee Johns and Camille Johns— was sworn in by Judge Bruce Petrie on Tuesday, March 4.
Robert Moore
Herald Staff
[email protected]
Whitney Johns was sworn in last week as judge of the the 50th Judicial Circuit, which encompasses Mercer and Boyle counties. Johns, accompanied by her family, was sworn in by Judge Bruce Petrie on Tuesday, March 4.
The judicial seat became vacant when Judge Jeffrey L. Dotson passed away in September 2024. A retired judge, Dan Kelly, handled the Circuit Court caseload until the governor appointed Johns. At the swearing in ceremony, Johns acknowledged she would begin hearing cases the very next day.
“It’s a little overwhelming,” Johns told the crowd of friends, family and well-wishers who attended her oath of office ceremony. “I’m just grateful to have an opportunity to serve this community.”
Johns was one of three nominees for the judgeship—along with attorneys Christopher Kala Herron and Christopher Joel Reed, both of Danville—announced in February by the Judicial Nominating Commission has announced nominees to fill the Circuit Court judicial vacancy in Boyle and Mercer counties. The counties make up the 50th Judicial Circuit and the vacancy is in the circuit’s Division 1.
Circuit Court is the court of general jurisdiction that hears civil matters involving more than $5,000, capital offenses and felonies, divorces, adoptions, termination of parental rights, land dispute title cases and contested probate cases. In counties with a Family Court division of Circuit Court, Family Court judges have primary jurisdiction in cases involving family issues, including divorces, adoption, child support, domestic violence and juvenile status offenses.
Johns is a partner in the Taylor and Johns law firm in Harrodsburg and is an assistant county attorney for Mercer County. She was admitted to the bar in 2011. She received her juris doctor from the University of Kentucky College of Law, now the University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law.
In 2022, Jeffrey Dotson was appointed by Gov. Andy Beshear to fill the Circuit Court judicial seat, which became vacant when Judge Darren W. Peckler resigned.
Dotson had served as District Court judge for Mercer and Boyle counties since 2003. Dotson’s most lasting legacy on the bench will be the Mercer and Boyle County Drug Court, which begin locally shortly after Dotson’s appointment to the Circuit Court bench. Drug Court celebrated its first graduation last year with Dotson presenting the diplomas.
