STAFF REPORT
Glasgow News 1
Former Barren County Circuit Judge Phillip Patton is among the 2026 University of Kentucky Rosenberg College of Law Hall of Fame inductees. Bench & Bar, the Kentucky Bar Association’s magazine, profiled the class in its September/October issue.
The profile traces Patton’s career from private practice in Glasgow to service as a prosecutor and circuit judge, followed by judicial assignments after his retirement in 2015.
Born in Johnson County in 1946, Patton moved with his family to Lexington while in elementary school. He graduated from Bryan Station High School in 1964 and earned bachelor’s, master’s and law degrees at UK, finishing law school in 1973, according to his hall of fame profile online.
After two years as a staff attorney with the Legislative Research Commission, Patton entered private practice in Glasgow. He became commonwealth’s attorney for the 43rd Circuit in 1993 and was elected twice without opposition.
According to the profile, Patton served as president of the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Association and led a successful effort to convert commonwealth’s attorneys’ offices to full-time positions. He also served on the Prosecutors Advisory Council and was named Prosecutor of the Year by the attorney general.
Patton became a circuit judge in 2001 and was elected three times without opposition. He received the Distinguished Jurist Award in 2010 and served six years on the UK Board of Trustees while serving as a judge.
Since retirement, Patton has served as a special judge in about 30 counties, according to the profile. By assignment of the chief justice, he has resolved hundreds of felony cases through mediation and received the Chief Justice’s Special Service Award in 2021.
Key Facts:
– Patton is a member of UK’s 2026 law Hall of Fame class.
– He graduated from UK law school in 1973.
– He became commonwealth’s attorney for the 43rd Circuit in 1993.
– He served as circuit judge beginning in 2001 and retired in 2015.
– His post-retirement service includes special judge assignments in about 30 counties.
