COVINGTON — Kentucky's top judge used a two-day Northern Kentucky swing to campaign for more family courts in the state.

        Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice Joseph Lambert made stops Thursday and Friday as he touted a 2002 constitutional amendment that, if approved by voters in November, would pave the way for more family courts in Kentucky.

        “Nothing will have a greater impact on the justice system in Kentucky than more family courts,” Justice Lambert told a Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce luncheon crowd Friday at Covington's Metropolitan Club.

        “The courts help families through their hardest times, and it's important that we have more of these courts in Kentucky,” he said.

        Boone and Gallatin counties are served by family courts, but Campbell and Kenton counties do not have them.

        Early Thursday he met with an attorney group. On Thursday evening, he spoke at the Boone County Businessmen's Association. On Friday morning, he spoke to a group of young, mostly Republican professionals.

        In 1990, the Kentucky General Assembly created the first family court, in Jefferson County, which took over some duties from circuit and district courts in divorce, custody and other domestic cases.

        In 1998 the legislature Kentucky Legislature created nine additional family courts, including the one serving Boone and Gallatin counties.

Trying to serve more

        Earlier t This year, lawmakers approved putting a constitutional amendment before the voters that would allow the creation of additional family courts across the state.

        “We serve about a million people in 10 counties with family courts,” Justice Lambert told chamber of commerce members.

        “But that means about 3 million people in 100 counties are not being served by family courts.

        “That's why I'm campaigning for the constitutional amendment,” he said. “It's that important to me, and it's that important to the people of Kentucky.”

        Justice Lambert said he has been traveling around the state touting the family court amendment as well as campaigning for his own re-election next year.

        A 53-year-old native and resident of Rockcastle County in south central Kentucky, Justice Lambert was first elected to the Supreme Court in 1986.

        He was elected chief justice by his fellow jurists in 1997.

A "different perspective'

        Following Friday's chamber speech, Justice Lambert, a Republican, played down talk that he is traveling the state to test the waters for a possible 2003 gubernatorial campaign.

        “I'm working on the family court constitutional amendment and getting out to work on my own re-election,” he said.

        “That's all I'm concerned with right now.”

        Boone County Judge-executive Gary Moore, a Republican, has been mentioned as a potential lieutenant governor running-mate for Justice Lambert.

        Without throwing his support behind the chief justice Mr. Moore — who has also has speculated as a on potential running-mate for other Republicans contemplating a gubernatorial run — said Justice Lambert would bring a “different perspective” to the governor's office.

Candidates abound

        “If he chose to seek that position, I think he would be a very viable candidate and an outstanding governor,” Mr. Moore said. “He would definitely bring a different perspective ... because he has a different background. That could be refreshing.

        “I've been very impressed with him,” Mr. Moore said. “We're very good friends and we talk regularly about a lot of issues.

        “I have no idea at this point what his position on (a gubernatorial) race will be, and I've made no commitments,” he said.

        “I love being judge-executive of Boone County and can see myself being there for a very long time.”

        Other Republicans considering running for governor include U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers of Somerset, retired U.S. Army Gen. eral John Coburn, Kentucky Senate President David Williams, U.S. Rep. Ernie Fletcher of Lexington and Jefferson County Judge-executive Rebecca Jackson.

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