Published: April 09, 2009 08:47 am      

SCOKY’s Venters speaks to Chamber

Local News

Those congregated at The Center for Rural Development for Tuesday’s Chamber of Commerce luncheon got a brief civics lesson from a member of the highest court in the state.

Somerset’s own Daniel J. Venters — former attorney, assistant commonwealth’s attorney, district judge, and circuit judge — urged Chamber members to become familiar with the seven members of the Kentucky Supreme Court. He is one of those seven members, along with Bill Cunningham, Lisabeth Hughes Abramson, Will T. Scott, Wil Schroder, Mary C. Noble, and John D. Minton Jr.

“It’s important for you to know who (the supreme court justices) are because they affect your lives every day,” said Venters, who was appointed to the Supreme Court last August.

The state’s Supreme Court, Venters explained, is responsible for “determining what the law in Kentucky should be.”

While the legislative branch of government creates laws, and the executive branch of government enforces laws, the judicial branch interprets the law when questions arise at the legislative and executive levels, Venters said.

“What has impressed me the most ... is that this is the hardest working group in government I’ve been around,” Venters said of his colleagues.

“It has been very solemn and sobering to see the great concern they have about how their actions affect your life.”

Supreme Court justices serve eight-year terms. Venters was appointed to finish former Chief Justice Joseph E. Lambert’s term, which had just over two years remaining at the time.