Judges & courts

Judge of the Court of Appeals, 5th Appellate District

Division 1

Vote for: 1
Term: 8 years
Candidates: 2
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: The Court of Appeals hears most appeals from Kentucky's trial courts; two judges are elected from each of seven appellate districts. Nonpartisan.

Candidates Compare by issue

Lucy Ferguson VanMeter

No party listed

Fayette Circuit Court judge · Lexington

The gist

Pledges to apply the law and Constitution as written
Supports applying the law consistently and without bias
Pledges timely decisions and transparency to keep public trust

More about Lucy

View sources (1)

Pledges to apply the law and Constitution as written
Vote Local Lexington: Judge of the Court of Appeals, 5th Appellate District – Division 1 (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · CivicLex (Vote Local Lexington) · lex.vote
“apply the law and Constitution as written, rule promptly, and ensure every proceeding is fair”
Supports applying the law consistently and without bias
Vote Local Lexington: Judge of the Court of Appeals, 5th Appellate District – Division 1 (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · CivicLex (Vote Local Lexington) · lex.vote
“The Court of Appeals must apply the law fairly, consistently, and without bias while resolving cases efficiently”
Pledges timely decisions and transparency to keep public trust
Vote Local Lexington: Judge of the Court of Appeals, 5th Appellate District – Division 1 (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · CivicLex (Vote Local Lexington) · lex.vote
“issue timely and well-reasoned decisions, and uphold the law with transparency and integrity”

Will Moynahan

No party listedIncumbent

Judge, Kentucky Court of Appeals · Lexington

The gist

Supports preserving funding for drug, mental health and veterans courts
Proposes raising juror pay and indexing it to inflation
Supports nonpartisan courts and transparent financial disclosures
Supports courts asserting their role as a co-equal branch

More about Will

View sources (1)

Supports preserving funding for drug, mental health and veterans courts
Vote Local Lexington: Judge of the Court of Appeals, 5th Appellate District – Division 1 (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · CivicLex (Vote Local Lexington) · lex.vote
“Specialty court funding should be preserved.”
Proposes raising juror pay and indexing it to inflation
Vote Local Lexington: Judge of the Court of Appeals, 5th Appellate District – Division 1 (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · CivicLex (Vote Local Lexington) · lex.vote
“I intend to advocate strongly with the legislature that this amount be raised and indexed for inflation.”
Supports nonpartisan courts and transparent financial disclosures
Vote Local Lexington: Judge of the Court of Appeals, 5th Appellate District – Division 1 (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · CivicLex (Vote Local Lexington) · lex.vote
“Courts should always remain non-partisan ... be as transparent as possible (including with financial disclosures)”
Supports courts asserting their role as a co-equal branch
Vote Local Lexington: Judge of the Court of Appeals, 5th Appellate District – Division 1 (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · CivicLex (Vote Local Lexington) · lex.vote
“Courts have a vital function as a co-equal branch of government and must not be timid about asserting our constitutional role”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 2 issues covered in this race.