Jefferson Circuit Court (Family Trial Division) Joan L. Byer Division 1 Jefferson County Judicial Center 700 West Jefferson Street Louisville, Kentucky 40202 (502) 595-4749 jbyer@kycourts.net

Judge Joan Byer has served as a Circuit Court Judge in Family Division One since 1996. Named Louisville Bar Association Judge of the Year in 2002, Judge Byer has received numerous recognitions reflecting her exemplary qualifications as a jurist and as a community leader.

Her professional awards and recognitions include Jefferson County Public Schools Superintendents Distinguished Service Award, Presentation Academy Tower Award for Women Leaders and most recently the Kentucky Law Related Education Award presented by the Chief Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court. Judge Byer currently serves as President of the National Truancy Prevention Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to the needs of challenged school aged youth.

Among her published articles is A Model Response to Truancy Prevention: The Louisville Truancy Court Diversion Project, Juvenile and Family Court Journal., Winter, 2003.

Judge Byer received her juris doctorate from Loyola Law School and was admitted to the California Bar in 1982 followed by admission to the Kentucky Bar in 1983.

CURRICULUM VITAE

JANUARY 1996 - PRESENT

JUDGE, JEFFERSON CIRCUIT COURT FAMILY DIVISION ONE LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

National Truancy Prevention Association-President

American Bar Association—Standing Committee on Substance Abuse

Kentucky Bar Association

National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges-Truancy Committee Chair

Louisville Bar Association

California Bar Association

Women Lawyers Association of Jefferson County—Past President

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

*    Louisville Bar Association -2002 Judge of the Year

*    Jefferson County Public Schools Superintendent's Distinguished Service Award

*    Presentation Academy Tower Award for Women Leaders

*    Women's Lawyers Association of Jefferson County—Outstanding Member Award

*    American Bar Association Scripps Howard Literacy Award

*    Kentucky Bar Association—2003 CLE Award Recipient

*    Kentucky Court of Justice—Liberty Bell Award

*    Louisville Bar Association-Pro Bono Service Award

*    River City Business and Professional Women—Good Guy Award

*    Jefferson County Public Schools—Stand Up Award

PUBLISHED ARTICLES;

A Model Response to Truancy Prevention: The Louisville Truancy Court Diversion Project. Juvenile and Family Court Journal, Winter 2003

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Louisville Collegiate School

*  Parent Association

*  Diversity Committee

Junior League of Louisville

* Community Advisory Board

Guest Lecturer

*  Jefferson County Public Schools

*  Brandeis School of Law, University of Louisville

DuPont Manual High School

*   Site Based Decision Making-School Climate Committee

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

1994-1996        Rogers, Fuller & Pitt, Louisville, KY

Domestic Relations and Personal Injury Litigation

Assistant Jefferson County Attorney, Louisville, KY

Prosecutor in Jefferson District and Family Courts

1990-1993        Taustine, Post, Sotsky, Berman, Fineman & Kohn, Louisville, KY

Civil and criminal trial practice

1987-1990        Gardner, Ewing & Souza, Louisville, KY

Civil trial practice

1986-1987        Bennett, Bowman, Triplett & Vittitow, Lousiville, KY

Civil trial practice

1984-1986         Office of the Commonwealth Attorney, Louisville, KY

Assistant Commonwealth Attorney

1982-1984        Cumberland Federal Savings & Loan Association, Louisville, KY

Legal Counsel, Mortgage Lending Division

1980-1982        Santa Clara County Public Defenders Office, San Jose, CA

Assistant Public Defender

EDUCATION:

Loyola Law School, Los Angeles - Juris Doctorate, 1981

University of California San Diego - Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, 1978

Admitted to the California Bar in 1982; Kentucky 1983