Caption for photo: 

The photos are of Franklin County District Judge Chris Olds, newly elected president of the Kentucky District Judges Association, and Olds with his fellow elected officers for 2025-2027.

The officers and the counties they serve as district judges are, from left to right, vice president Judge Kimberly Geoghegan (Warren), treasurer Judge Lindsay Hughes Thurston (Fayette), immediate past president Judge Stephanie Pearce Burke (Jefferson), Judge Olds, president-elect Judge D. Brett Butcher (Johnson, Martin and Lawrence) and secretary Judge Shannon L. Meyer (Daviess).

FRANKFORT, Ky., Oct. 21, 2025 – Franklin County District Court Judge Chris Olds has been elected by his colleagues to serve a two-year term as president of the Kentucky District Judges Association for 2025-2027. He was elected during the District Judges Fall College, held Sept. 21-24 in Bowling Green.

“I am honored to lead such a distinguished group of public servants,” Judge Olds said. “Kentucky district judges work tirelessly every day to serve the good people of our commonwealth.”

He succeeds Jefferson County District Judge Stephanie Pearce Burke as president.

Judge Olds has served as Franklin County District Judge since 2008 and previously spent 11 years in private practice as a trial lawyer. A graduate of Georgetown College and the University of Kentucky College of Law (now the University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law), he was elected to the Order of the Coif and served on the Trial Advocacy Board during his time at UK Law. He is a former president of the Franklin County Bar Association and was named Best Attorney in the 2003 “Best of Frankfort Awards.” Judge Olds has also remained active in community organizations such as The Kings Center and as a previous board member of People Understanding Special Handicaps.

Judge Olds assumes his new role alongside his fellow elected officers:

• President-elect – Judge D. Brett Butcher (Johnson, Martin and Lawrence)
• Vice President – Judge Kimberly Geoghegan (Warren)
• Secretary – Judge Shannon L. Meyer (Daviess)
• Treasurer – Judge Lindsay Hughes Thurston (Fayette)

District Court
District Court judges handle juvenile matters, city and county ordinances, misdemeanors, violations, traffic offenses, probate of wills, arraignments, felony probable cause hearings, small claims involving $2,500 or less, civil cases involving $5,000 or less, voluntary and involuntary mental commitments and cases relating to domestic violence and abuse.

Administrative Office of the Courts
The AOC is the operations arm for the state court system and supports the activities of nearly 3,300 employees and 412 elected justices, judges and circuit court clerks. As the fiscal agent for the state court system, the AOC executes the Judicial Branch budget.

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