Published: July 17, 2007 08:40 am      

Pulaski native named deputy director of state AOC

A Somerset native recently achieved a lofty position within the state’s justice system, according to the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC).

Laurie K. Dudgeon was named deputy director of the AOC earlier this month. Her appointment is effective as of July 23.

“I have a great deal of respect for the integrity and independence of the Kentucky judiciary,” said Dudgeon. “I am honored to be offered this opportunity and I look forward to joining the court system as it breaks new ground in critical areas.”

Dudgeon, 38, a Somerset High School alum, graduated from the University of Kentucky with a bachelor's degree in history in 1991 and a juris doctor from the UK College of Law in 1994. She has been executive director of Kentucky’s Office of Drug Control Policy — which coordinates response and planning regarding substance abuse — since Oct. 2006. She served as an attorney with the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet in 2005 before Gov. Fletcher appointed her to her current position.

Prior to her work with the Justice Cabinet, Dudgeon was in private practice for 11 years, where she concentrated on constitutional law, employment law, administrative law, and commercial and residential real estate law.

Dudgeon has been actively involved in local charities, including Hospice of the Bluegrass, the American Cancer Society and the New Horizons Child Development Center, and currently resides in Frankfort with her two children, Kathleen, 8, and Tate, 5. She is the daughter of Bobby and Suzanne Kidd, who are current residents of Somerset.

“Laurie is a highly intelligent individual who is dedicated to serving the people of Kentucky, as evidenced by her work with the Office of Drug Control Policy,” said Jason M. Nemes, AOC director. “The combination of her legal expertise and administrative abilities will enable her to make a strong contribution in the position of deputy director. Laurie’s energy and her interest in the future of the court system make her an excellent fit for the AOC.”