Logan County Attorney Joe Ross has announced he will run for circuit judge in Logan and Todd counties during a special election to be held in November.
Ross issued a statement to area media Tuesday morning saying he pledges to be ‘fair and just,” if elected, an approach he says he’s displayed as prosecutor in Logan County.
He believes the court system should be used to motivate people to get the help they need in some instances, but that punishment and deterrence must be the focus in other cases.
Ross says ‘cases involving victims of child abuse, sexual assault and violence as well as cases of drug trafficking and manufacturing will be dealt with fairly but firmly.’
Ross formerly served as full-time staff attorney for Judge Tyler Gill and later worked as an assistant commonwealth’s attorney under Charles Orange before being elected Logan County Attorney in 2010.
He also spent time working with the Todd County Attorney’s Office under Mac Johns.
Ross is a Russellville resident and a graduate of the University of Kentucky College of Law.
He is opposed in the non-partisan election by Russellville lawyer Joe Hendricks.
The winner will fill out the remainder of the term of Judge Gill, who is retiring this summer.