Experience
That Matters!
Judge VanMeter has more than two decades of experience in Kentucky’s state court system. She was elected to the Fayette Circuit Court in 2018 and presides over civil cases, felony criminal matters, and appeals from the Fayette District Court. Prior to serving on the bench, Judge VanMeter was an equity partner with one of Kentucky’s preeminent law firms where she practiced law from 2001 to 2018. As a member of Stoll Keenon Ogden, PLLC, Judge VanMeter represented clients in Kentucky’s state court system from Paducah to Pikeville.
Circuit Court
Experience
Over the last 25 years, Judge VanMeter has handled the types of cases and issues that come before Kentucky’s state courts including but not limited to business disputes, property disputes, employment claims, medical and nursing home negligence, professional negligence, negligent security, probate/estate litigation, insurance coverage, bad faith, foreclosures, collections, contract claims, appeals from planning and zoning/Board of Adjustment, workers’ compensation, and all manner of personal injury and wrongful death cases including motor vehicle collisions, dram shop, fire losses, electrocutions, and asbestos exposure. On the criminal side, Judge VanMeter presides over crimes including murders, assaults, wanton endangerment, sexual crimes, drug trafficking, theft and fraud.
Private Practice
Experience
In private practice, Judge VanMeter was accountable to clients and represented individuals such as farmers, teachers, prosecutors, police officers, doctors, accountants, and attorneys as well as business entities, cities, utility companies, insurance companies and Medicaid managed care entities. She served on SKO’s Personnel Committee with responsibility for recruiting summer associates and lateral hires, conducting annual reviews of attorneys and paralegals, and studying, recommending and implementing salary and bonus compensation structures.
My honor has been to serve on the Circuit Court. I am running for this election because I believe the Court of Appeals bench benefits when its members have deep practice experience in the state court system and have presided over cases as a trial judge. In my nearly 25-year career, I’ve handled just about every type of case that will come before the Court of Appeals and believe I can serve the people of Kentucky independently and honorably.
As a judge, my rules for service are:
1. Be prepared and on time.
2. Listen to the parties.
3. Apply the law and Constitution as written.
4. Rule promptly.
5. Ensure proceedings are fair.
6. In criminal cases, always consider the safety and security of the community and impose a consequence for actions.