Judge Lisa Payne Jones has been elected to the Court of Appeals for the 1st District, 2nd Division, securing her seat after defeating opponent Jason Fleming of Christian County with 29,105 votes.
Jones, who previously served as a Circuit Judge, was appointed to the position by Governor Andy Beshear earlier this year before choosing to seek re-election.
“It’s a wonderful feeling. It’s a relief because you just don’t know what’s going to happen. You give it your all and hope it’s enough,” Jones said. “Unlike national races, there are no polls to guide you. You just work as hard as you can, meet as many people as you can, and hope you’ve made a difference. I’m absolutely overwhelmed by the support from Owensboro, Daviess County, and all of Western Kentucky.”
As she transitions from her role as Circuit Judge, Jones is looking forward to moving to a new office in Owensboro. She explained that the work of an appeals judge differs from that of a trial court judge.
“We don’t sit on the bench every day. Instead, we review cases from across the state, looking at files, recordings, and other documents. Occasionally, we do take the bench for oral arguments, and we can travel across the state for that,” Jones said. “I won’t have my own courtroom anymore, so I’ll continue to travel around Western Kentucky to stay connected with the people I represent.”
Jones emphasized the importance of judicial independence, highlighting that the Court of Appeals’ role is to uphold the law rather than promote political platforms.
“People often don’t understand what the Court of Appeals does or the significance of non-partisan judicial races. I hope that by supporting my message of integrity and independence, people recognize that judges are here to uphold the law and build trust in the system,” she said.
