Local prosecutor Nick Payne is seeking election to the Division 1 seat on the Daviess District Court, saying his decades of courtroom experience and deep ties to the community have prepared him to serve.
Payne, 51, is seeking the seat currently held by Misty Miller, who will retire at the end of her term. Payne said he’s long had his eye on the district bench.
“I have wanted to be a district court judge since I moved back in town many, many years ago,” he said. “I’ve been working in the court system the whole time I’ve been practicing law. I just think that I have a lot to offer Daviess County and the people of Daviess County as a district court judge.”
Payne said his campaign is rooted in improving the day-to-day experience for people who come through district court.
“Nobody really wants to go, but I want to make it as streamlined as possible, as efficient as possible,” he said. “I want to make it where people can get in and get out and not have to spend their whole day if they have to go down there.”
Payne was born and raised in Owensboro. A 1992 graduate of Owensboro Catholic High School, he went on to earn a dual degree in economics and government from Centre College before attending the University of Kentucky College of Law. After clerking for judges for about a year and a half, he practiced in the public defender’s office and eventually returned home.
He has now spent more than two decades in the courtroom, most of it as a prosecutor.
“I’ve been in the court system every day,” Payne said. “I’ve been in court since I started practicing law. Since 1999, I’ve been in a courtroom or preparing to go to court. So my courtroom experience is unmatched.”
Payne joined the Daviess County Attorney’s Office in 2002. He said his years on the criminal docket have shaped his understanding of fairness, accountability, and the individualized nature of each case.
“On the criminal side, I have experience in that there needs to be accountability where a judge needs to be fair and impartial, and I’ve been doing that my whole career,” he said. “Every case is different, and every case needs its own set of eyes. Even though the law is the same for every case, every case is not the same. Someone needs to understand that and have that experience, and I can apply that in district court.”
Payne said he is particularly focused on issues surrounding juveniles.
“One of the biggest concerns I have is juvenile justice right now, and that needs to be touched upon,” he said.
In addition to his professional work, Payne is active in the community. He serves on the St. Joseph Peace Mission Board, a role he’s held since 2019, and participates in church activities and youth sports.
“I coach my kids in various sports, as long as their skill level does not surpass my knowledge of the game, which is starting to get there,” he said with a laugh.
Payne said his motivation for running is tied to his commitment to the community where he and his wife are raising their family.
“I want to be a judge to help other families in this community and to keep everyone safe and protect everyone’s interests,” he said. “That says it all.”
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