The Administrative Office of the Courts is the fiscal agent of the Kentucky Court of Justice. All budget, accounting and procurement functions that support the operation of the courts, including grant and contract management, are performed centrally by AOC staff.
Judicial Branch Budget
The Department of Budget prepares and executes the annual operating budget, which involves preparing. Appropriations from the General Assembly fund the Judicial Branch and its budget represents approximately 3.4% of the total state general funds each biennium. The budget pays for all expenses of the Kentucky Court of Justice, including salaries, court facilities, court technology, office supplies and equipment.
The Judicial Branch employs approximately 10% of the state's workforce and 87% of its budget funds personnel costs for 406 elected justices, judges and circuit court clerks and nearly 3,300 employees. The Judicial Branch is currently operating under House Bill 264, its budget appropriation for Fiscal Biennium 2024-2026.
The court system deposits all funds it collects from filing fees and court costs into the state treasury for general fund disbursement. The only exceptions are the law library, the county jail and the sheriff security fees, which are distributed at the local level and are paid with third-party money.
Judicial Branch Financial Statements
The AOC prepares annual financial statements that are audited by an independent external auditor.