Jones sworn in as newest Court of Appeals judge

Lisa Payne Jones became the first woman from Daviess County to serve on the state Court of Appeals Monday, when she was sworn into the judgeship Monday afternoon at the Holbrook Judicial Center.

Jones has been both a district and a circuit judge in Daviess County, and was sworn in front of an audience including a member of the state Supreme Court, members of the Court of Appeals and nearly all of the county’s district, circuit and family court judges.

Jones was selected to fill the vacant Appeals Court seat by Gov. Andy Beshear.

“I pledge to him and to your that I’ll do my utmost to be worthy of this honor,” Jones told audience at Monday’s ceremony.

Jones was sworn in by Appeals Court Judge Jeff Taylor, who said Jones is the first woman from the county to serve on the Court of Appeals.

“This is a momentous occasion for Daviess County,” Taylor said.

Jones has been on the bench for 22 years in district and circuit court, and has presided over programs such as Drug Court. Jones was also the first judge to preside of the county’s Mental Health Court program.

Both Drug Court and Mental Health Court work to divert with substance abuse issues or mental disorders out of incarceration through case management, monitoring and treatment.

Jones also served on a state commission that worked to revise the juvenile criminal code, and is a member of the Judicial Commission on Mental Health.

“This is her defining characteristic: She has a broad view of our justice system (that) it encompasses more than courts and prisons,” retired Circuit Judge Joe Castlen said.

“Judge Jones knows we must change,” Castlen said.

The idea that increasing the number of criminal penalties in the state will somehow lead to a reduction in crime is “just madness,” Castlen said, and that Jones worked to find solutions other than incarceration.

“Judge Jones understands incarceration of the mentally ill (and people suffering from substance abuse) can be cruel to them,” Castlen said.

Jones thanked the judges and court staff.

“All of you have seen me grow up. You’ve seen me mature,” Jones said, and that she has worked to give back to the community.

“I hope you see it through the attention to your stories, and the decisions I’ve rendered,” she said.

Circuit Judge Jay Wethington, who is recovering from a fall, could not attend the swearing in ceremony. Jones worked as an intern in a firm where Wethington was a partner, and was later hired as a prosecutor in Wethington’s office when he was elected commonwealth’s attorney.

Jones said Wethington had been a combination of mentor, teacher and “Dear Abby” to her while she worked in the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office.

“His absence today is palpable,” Jones said.

The site where the Holbrook Judicial Center now stands held a Kresge’s department store, Jones said, and that her grandmother worked there, making strawberry pies at the place where Jones would later be a judge.

“I’m proud to walk in the footsteps of my grandmother, and I’m proud to serve you as your next judge on the Kentucky Court of Appeals,” Jones said.