The Christian County Justice Center and its district courtroom can be an extremely serious place. It’s where the law is exacted and upheld, often and hopefully steering people back onto the straight-and-narrow.
But every once in awhile, positive relationships are formed. Comedy is written. Laughs are shared. Frustrations are aired. Stories are written.
During Thursday’s Hopkinsville Kiwanis Club meeting, 3rd Judicial District judges for Division 1 and Division 2, respectively John Lindsey Adams and J. Foster Cotthoff, shared some of the funnier, lighter moments of their tenure thus far on the bench.
With COVID-19 concerns rampant over the last two years, Cotthoff said the adventures on Zoom calls have been…interesting.
When it comes to small claims court, Adams always finds himself thinking about an old story from Judge Peter McDonald — and something that still holds true today.
Cotthoff said there’s been an innumerable number of cases in which defendants have been ordered to square away specifics before getting behind the wheel of a vehicle — things like proof of insurance, habitual speeding, and so on — only to try and sneak out of the parking lot and past the bailiffs.
Under limited jurisdiction, Adams and Cotthoff often find themselves dealing with a wide variety of case law, including but no limited to: wills and estates, DUIs, bond rulings, truancy, juvenile drug court, traffic court, Spanish court, probates, evictions, veterans treatment court, and more.
Combined, the two judges see anywhere between 80 to 120 people a day, and Cotthoff said there’s great joy in the service.
Adams said he often thinks of his father’s advice, before going to work for the day.
A bit of news for the 3rd Judicial District: Cotthoff noted that a sixth judge, targeting family court, will be coming January 2023. Adams added it’ll only help with the judge rotation.
Colloquially known as the “downstairs judges” by operating on the first floor, Adams served as the assistant Christian County attorney from 2003-18 until his election. Cotthoff was elected in 2014 following his long-term work in a local firm. Both are on the ballot for 2022.
Full audio:
