VanMeter elected chief justice of Kentucky Supreme Court, replacing Minton

Justice Laurance B. VanMeter, a native of Lexington who spent much of his career as an attorney and judge in Fayette County, has been elected chief justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court.

VanMeter will serve a four-year term. He replaces Chief Justice John D. Minton Jr., who is retiring Jan. 1.

“We appreciate Justice VanMeter’s hard work, dedication and leadership as an experienced member of the judiciary and a valued member of the Supreme Court,” Minton said in a news release. “With this election, the justices have put their trust in Justice VanMeter to uphold the integrity of the court system and ensure the efficient administration of justice across the commonwealth.”

VanMeter was elected to the state’s highest court in November 2016 from the 5th Supreme Court District, which includes Bourbon, Clark, Fayette, Franklin, Jessamine, Madison, Scott and Woodford counties.

He is the third justice to have served at all four levels of the state’s unified court system, according to a news release. He was elected to the Kentucky Court of Appeals in 2003 and served as Fayette circuit judge from 1999 to 2003 and Fayette district judge from 1994 to 1999.

He was an attorney with the Lexington law firm formerly known as Stoll, Keenan & Park from 1983 to 1994.

VanMeter holds an undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University, a law degree from the University of Kentucky College of Law and a master of laws degree from Duke University School of Law.

He is married to Fayette Circuit Court Judge Lucy A. VanMeter and has four children with his late wife, Lucy Bryans VanMeter. He’s been active in a number of local community organizations, including Lexington Youth Soccer and the Sayre School Board of Trustees, and he is a member of Christ Church Cathedral, where he has served on the vestry.

VanMeter said he’s “humbled by the vote of confidence” of his fellow justices, and he said Minton “leaves incredibly large shoes to fill.”

“I hope in some small way to live up to the standards he has set,” VanMeter said in the release. “And I need to mention Deputy Chief Justice Lisabeth T. Hughes, who is also retiring. Her wisdom and leadership has greatly contributed to the stability of our courts.”