Jerrell vs. Fiscal Court Arguments Today

The Kentucky Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments today, at Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, including a case between McCracken County Clerk Jeff Jerrell and McCracken County Fiscal Court.

A three-judge panel composed of Court of Appeals Chief Judge Glenn E. Acree and Court of Appeals Judges Jeff S. Taylor and Laurance B. VanMeter will hear the arguments in Jerrell's civil case, another from Christian County, and a criminal case appeal from Ballard County.

Judge VanMeter will preside over the Jerrell case at 10:15 am. At issue is whether a fiscal court has the authority to enact an ordinance that governs the financial operations of an elected Office of County Clerk. This relates to a Fiscal Court ordinance in 2011 that placed Jerrell's budget under a fee pool system.

Judge Thomas O. Castlen presided over the original case. Jennifer Schultz and J. Wicker are Appellant attorneys, with Stacey Blankenship and Jackie Matheny, Jr. representing Jerrell as County Clerk. The Kentucky County Clerks Association has filed a friend of the court brief in the case, volunteering to offer information to assist the court in its decidion. Rick Johnson of the association will be at the hearing.

Proceedings are open to the public and will begin at 9:30 am in the Winchester Community Center of Rogers Hall, at 3000 Frederica Street.