College of Law Announces Judicial Conversation Series

The University of Kentucky College of Law is pleased to announce that the Judicial Conversation Series is back again for Spring 2014. Kentucky Chief Justice John D. Minton will kick off this year’s series on Friday, April 4, at noon, followed by U.S. Tax Court Judge Joseph Goeke on Friday, April 11, at noon. Each forum will be moderated by Judge Jennifer B. Coffman (Retired), Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky.

The Judicial Conversation Series began in Spring 2013 and is a series of thoughtful and engaging interactions between distinguished members of the judiciary and law students, each taking place in the University of Kentucky College of Law Courtroom. Previous speakers have included Kentucky Supreme Court Justices Abramson, Cunningham, Minton, Noble, Scott and Venters.

John D. Minton Jr. of Bowling Green earned a J.D. in 1977 from the University of Kentucky College of Law. He was elected to the Supreme Court of Kentucky in 2006 and was sworn in as Kentucky’s fifth chief justice in 2008. His fellow justices elected him as chief justice for a second term that began in June 2012.

Joseph Robert Goeke earned a J.D. in 1975 from the University of Kentucky College of Law. He was nominated to the United States Tax Court by President George W. Bush. He joined the court on April 22, 2003, for a term ending on April 21, 2018.

Jennifer B. Coffman earned a J.D. in 1978 from the University of Kentucky College of Law. She was nominated to the United States District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky by President Bill Clinton. She became the first female federal judge in Kentucky at the time of her appointment in 1993. She went on to become the first female federal chief judge in 2007. On January 8, 2013, Coffman retired after serving on the court for 19 years.