Claire Galofaro

The Courier-Journal

Jefferson County District Court Judge Donald Armstrong, a 15-year veteran of the bench, became on Tuesday the only sitting judge ousted by voters, despite the throng of prosecutors who challenged incumbent judges.

The judicial ballot was daunting: 20 of the 43 Jefferson County judicial seats, from appeals courts down to district courts, were contested.

The hardest-fought races were in District Court, where County Attorney Mike O'Connell changed his policy to allow prosecutors to keep their jobs in his office while campaigning against sitting judges.

Nine incumbent judges faced challengers.

In the end, Armstrong was the only one knocked out of his seat. Assistant County Attorney Jennifer Leibson won with 54 percent of the vote.

Embattled judge Sandra McLaughlin, who came under fire this election cycle for insulting defendants and refusing them public defenders, beat out former judge Matthew Eckert.

Judges Annette Karem, Gina Kay Calvert, Eric Haner, Stephanie Pearce Burke, David Bowles, Katie King and Erica Lee Williams all held onto their seats.

District Court will see two other new judges: Assistant County Attorney Amber Wolf and former prosecutor Anne Delahanty claimed open seats.

Family Court will undergo the most profound shakeup on the bench, with six of 10 judges retiring. Voters elected all women to replace them.

Retired Judge Deborah Deweese and District Court Judge Deana "Dee" McDonald both sailed by their competitors. Four others also cruised to an easy victory: Angela Johnson, Tara Hagerty, A. Christine Ward, and Denise Brown.

Circuit Court will see only one new judge: District Court Judge Ann Bailey Smith beat out Assistant County Attorney Sandy Berman to claim the seat. In the only other contested Circuit Court race, incumbent Judge Barry Willett crushed challenger Stuart Pearlman.

Court of Appeals Judge Denise Guess Clayton also won with more than 70 percent of the vote.

JUDICIAL RACES

FAMILY COURT

30TH DISTRICT

DIVISION 1

All 639 reporting

Angela Johnson 91,144(57%)

Lauren Adams Ogden 68,742(43%)

DIVISION 3

All 639 reporting

Deborah Deweese 116,926(72%)

Ellie Garcia Kerstetter 45,497(28%)

DIVISION 5

All 639 reporting

Tara Hagerty 114,294(71%)

Stuart Scherer 45,399(28%)

DIVISION 6

All 639 reporting

A. Christine Ward 111,213(67%)

Stephanie Morgan-White 53,717(32%)

DIVISION 7

All 639 reporting

Denise Brown 100,478(60%)

Dennis Burke 65,532(39%)

DIVISION 8

All 639 reporting

Deana "Dee" McDonald 111,641(70%)

Mark Hyatt Gaston Sr. 48,350(30%)

CIRCUIT COURT

30TH DISTRICT

DIVISION 1

All 639 reporting

Barry Willett* 99,502(62%)

Stuart Pearlman 60,767(38%)

DIVISION 13

All 639 reporting

Ann Bailey Smith 99,081(61%)

Sandy Berman 63,299(39%)

DISTRICT COURT

30TH DISTRICT

DIVISION 1

All 639 reporting

Nichole Taylor Compton 66,798(41%)

Annette Karem* 93,650(58%)

DIVISION 2

All 639 reporting

Josh Schneider 70,122(44%)

Amber Wolf 88,858(56%)

DIVISION 3

All 639 reporting

Matthew Eckert 72,352(44%)

Sandra McLaughlin* 92,290(56%)

DIVISION 5

All 639 reporting

Donald Armstrong Jr.* 75,671(45%)

Jennifer Leibson 91,124(54%)

DIVISION 8

All 639 reporting

David Bowles* 82,716(51%)

Josephine Layne Buckner 77,461(48%)

DIVISION 11

All 639 reporting

Gina Kay Calvert* 85,008(54%)

Susan Jones 72,307(46%)

DIVISION 12

All 639 reporting

Eric Haner* 91,988(56%)

James Michael Green 70,698(43%)

DIVISION 13

All 639 reporting

Anne Delahanty 98,863(58%)

Ann Schiavone Dyke 70,582(42%)

DIVISION 14

All 639 reporting

Andre Bergeron 56,379(34%)

Stephanie Pearce Burke* 106,944(65%)

DIVISION 16

All 639 reporting

Katie King* 111,155(61%)

Claudia Ann Smith 70,363(39%)

DIVISION 17

All 639 reporting

Dana Michelle Cohen 72,567(45%)

Erica Lee Williams* 88,776(55%)

COURT OF APPEALS

4TH DISTRICT

DIVISION 2

Stan Whetzel 45,288(28%)

Denise Guess Clayton* 118,628(72%)