Edmonson County Attorney Greg Vincent Files To Run For Vacant 38th District Judicial Seat

Edmonson County Attorney Greg Vincent talks with the crowd at the Edmonson Co. Courthouse as he announces his candidacy for the 38th District Judicial seat.

Darren Doyle, story and photos:
Greg Vincent, Edmonson County Attorney, announced today that he has filed to run for the vacant 38th judicial seat, District 1. The announcement came at a special event Vincent held at the Edmonson County Courthouse.

The 38th District covers Edmonson, Butler, Ohio, and Hancock Counties, and was left vacant when Judge J.B. Hines filed to run for the new 8th Circuit Judicial seat, which will cover Edmonson and Warren Counties.

Vincent spoke to the crowd today and discussed why he chose to run for the judgeship.

"I'd never really thought of being the judge-type," he said. "For almost 30 years, I've been an advocate. I've been a defense attorney, a prosecutor, I've handled evictions for both landlords and tenants, I've done probate cases, civil lawsuits where I sued and also defended. I've done a little bit of everything and I've always considered myself as an advocate, who argued forcefully for his client. For the last few years, it's been the Commonwealth of Kentucky in Edmonson County. As you know, I'm not going to be County Attorney in January, but I've still been thinking about an advocate position. Last year, when Judge McCarty announced his resignation, I was approached then by people saying 'you should look at this judgeship,' but I would say no, no, I like what I do...I'm an advocate."

He said others continued encouraging him to seek the judgeship position because of his background that covers so many different areas. Vincent said he began to think about all the aspects of law for which he has advocated over his career.

"So when I got to thinking about it, talking with my family and friends that I respected, I made the decision," he added. "I believe as a judge, my background will let me do something that other judges don't have. I'm not saying they are bad or that any of the judges I've dealt with were bad, but I bring a unique perspective. Most times, you have a judge that comes from one side, and that's all he's ever done, so he doesn't know what it's like to be on the other side."

Edmonson County Attorney Greg Vincent talks with the crowd at the Edmonson Co. Courthouse as he announces his candidacy for the 38th District Judicial seat.

Vincent said because of his unique perspective, he could make the following pledge:

"If I become your next district judge, everyone will get a fair shake in my court," he said.

He discussed the many complaints he's heard about the court system over the years from those who have said it is not always fair and he said he wants to do his part to provide fairness.

"I don't care where you come from, or who you are, or who you know, everyone will be treated the same," he told the audience. "You have just as much of a right to your day in court and to say your peace as the person sitting over here. I will make sure I hear it and consider both sides, because that's what I've always done."

Vincent is a graduate of Edmonson County High School and Western Kentucky University. He earned his law degree from the University of Kentucky in 1993.

Upon graduation, Vincent began his career as an Assistant Commonwealth Attorney in Simpson/Allen Counties. He moved back to Edmonson County in 1994 and has worked as a private attorney since that time. He was first elected as Edmonson County Attorney in 1998 and has served 22 out of the last 24 years in that role.

He asked the audience for their votes and support as he concluded with a meet-and-greet with those in attendance.

Because of filing deadlines and the timeline in which the vacancy took place, the office will be a write-in vote, only. The General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 8, 2022.