The Division 8 Staff
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McKay Chauvin: Circuit Court Judge
I am a graduate of Trinity High School, Vanderbilt University, and the Georgetown University Law Center. Very good schools I was lucky to get into then and could never get into now. I spent fifteen (15) years as a prosecutor in state and federal court. As an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney I served as Division Chief of the Special Prosecutions and Capital Trial units. As an Assistant United States Attorney I was the Violent Crimes Coordinator for the Western District of Kentucky, and founded the nationally recognized anti-gun crime initiative called “Project Backfire”. Immediately prior to coming to the bench I enjoyed a short but colorful and highly entertaining stint in private practice. I was first appointed to the Jefferson Circuit Court in 2004 and have enjoyed very nearly every minute of the job since then. In January of 2013 I was honored by the Louisville Bar Association with the Distinguished Service Award. My seriously wonderful wife Laura and I have three (3) alternately delightful and maddening children (Addison, Whitney and Jack) and two (2) consistently smelly dogs (Henry and Scooter).
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Kati Kiefer: Staff Attorney
Kati was raised in the land of Missouri. Missouri (often mispronounced “Miz-ur-ee”) is the state you would get if you bred Indiana with Arkansas. She is happy to be from there but she misses the toasted ravioli. Kati is a graduate of Wake Forest and the Saint Louis University School of Law. Chances are she is smarter than you and just about anyone you know. Prior to landing her dream job here in Division 8 she worked for the Missouri Department of Revenue. In addition to making me look good, Kati is also in charge of the S.M.A.R.T. probation database and our Intern/Extern program (a/k/a “The Division 8 College of Judicial Wisdom and Knowledge”). She bakes the best oatmeal-raisin-chocolate chip cookies on either side of the Mississippi.
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Joyce Collier: Court Clerk
Joyce is the nicest, friendliest, warm-and-fuzziest clerk in all of Division 8. She loves people. Maybe not immediately, or even very quickly, but eventually and then forever. She has a very hard job which I make even harder because I crank out Orders like the Bureau of Engraving cranks out dollar bills. Joyce is thrilled that, because of my various and sundry special projects, we have to keep all of the criminal files up here in our office rather than down in the clerk’s office like everybody else. She also serves as safety marshal for the eighth floor. She has given us all very clear instructions that in case of an actual emergency we are welcome to follow her as she runs screaming out of the building.
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Lisa Durham: Secretary
I have designated Lisa to be the “Executive Director” of Division 8. She was awarded this title, in lieu of pay, for her faithful (bordering on worshipful) devotion to me. In addition to her secretarial duties she is in charge of the Division 8 e-Order project. We send all Opinions and Orders out electronically. This money-saving, time-saving, paper-saving practice is the first step on the road to electronic filing. However, until that glorious day is here, Lisa wants you to know that she cannot and will not accept any pleadings or correspondence via e-mail. She will e-yell at you if you test her. I am more than a little scared of her. You should be too.
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Mike Ludwig: Deputy Sheriff
Mike is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent. He is regularly … and this is true … voted as “favorite courtroom Deputy” by the inmates of the Jefferson County Jail. They, and we, very much appreciate that he treats everyone with respect regardless of whether they are wearing a dark blue business suit of a bright orange jumpsuit. Mike is the world’s greatest athlete … senior senior division. He is a proud member of two (2) world champion softball teams.