Jefferson County Judge/Executive

The Jefferson County Judge/Executive, under state law, is the chief executive of Jefferson County, Kentucky. KRS 67.700 established the position of "County Judge/Executive" for all counties in Kentucky. Under the merged city-county government, however, the position holds little real power, with the Mayor of Louisville Metro effectively assuming the role.

Before the Kentucky Constitution of 1850, the primary administrator of a county was the justice of the peace. That constitution provided for the office of a county judge, who presided over certain county courts, most notably the court of claims, the forerunner of the fiscal court. In the fourth state constitution, enacted in 1891, reorganized county governments into much of their present form. Judicial, legislative and executive leadership was provided for in the office of the county judge. In 1913, Jefferson County moved to a commissioner form of county government, giving rise to the Jefferson County Fiscal Court. In the 1970s, the judicial roles of the county judge were minimized and the legislative and executive roles maximized, leading to the 1975 change to "County Judge/Executive."

The Jefferson County Judge/Executive had a number of responsibilities unique to the office, by virtue of Louisville being a first-class city. However, in 2003, when the city and county governments merged, these responsibilities were shifted to the Mayor of Metro Louisville, leaving behind an office with little power that exists only because required by state law. The last pre-merger Jefferson County Judge/Executive was Rebecca Jackson. The current Judge/Executive is Ken Herndon.