County Attorney

The office of county attorney was first made a constitutional office under the Kentucky Constitution of 1850.  The present Constitution requires the election of a county attorney in each county for a term of four years.  Legislation in 1976 modified the office of county attorney under the direction of the Attorney General, classifying his duties as follows:  the prosecutorial function (a special prosecutor of the Commonwealth); civil advising to county government, and miscellaneous duties for the state and county.

County attorneys serve as legal counsel for county government.  Their general duties in this capacity are to attend the fiscal court meetings and conduct all business of that body touching the rights or interests of the county.  When the fiscal court so directs, the county attorney must conduct civil actions in which the county is a party before any of the courts of the Commonwealth.

The county attorney is also obliged to give legal advice to the fiscal court and county officers in all matters concerning county business.  In addition to his services for general county government and its officers, the county attorney also acts as legal representative to many county boards, commissions and special districts.