THE APEX TIMES
Voters in the 5th Appellate District selected Fayette Circuit Judge Lucy VanMeter over Court of Appeals Judge Will Moynahan, who was appointed by Gov. Andy Beshear in 2025.
A Fayette Circuit Court judge won a Kentucky Court of Appeals race Tuesday evening, defeating a sitting appellate judge who Gov. Andy Beshear appointed in 2025, according to results reported by Kentucky Lantern.
The outlet reported that voters in the 5th Appellate District chose Fayette Circuit Judge Lucy VanMeter over Court of Appeals Judge Will Moynahan by 51%. The result marks a shift from the Beshear-backed candidacy to a candidate serving on the trial court bench in Fayette County.
VanMeter’s victory gives her the appellate seat associated with the 5th Appellate District going forward, replacing the appointed incumbent after voters cast ballots in the statewide judicial election.
Moynahan had been appointed by Beshear in 2025 to serve on the Court of Appeals, following a vacancy tied to the departure of Justice Pamela Goodwine, according to Kentucky Lantern’s reporting. Moynahan then sought to retain the seat in the election cycle.
Judicial races in Kentucky determine who holds appellate authority over appeals from lower courts, with decisions affecting how civil and criminal cases are handled across the district. The outcome Tuesday evening therefore affects not only the two candidates, but also litigants whose cases are pending or will be appealed.
The election also illustrates how gubernatorial appointments can be tested by voters in the next electoral cycle, particularly when an incumbent’s position stems from appointment rather than election. With VanMeter’s win, the appellate seat will be occupied by someone with experience in Fayette Circuit Court rather than one serving since the 2025 appointment.
It was not immediately clear from the Kentucky Lantern report whether there were additional runoff thresholds or other downstream procedural steps tied to the results. The court’s docket and assignment practices would continue under the new elected judge, subject to standard administrative procedures.
