Bowling Green resident John D. Minton was chosen Monday as only the fifth chief justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court.

Minton, 56, was selected the court’s leader in a vote of the justices. He will take the oath of office June 27 to replace current Chief Justice Joseph E. Lambert, who announced his retirement as chief justice last month.

“I am honored by the vote of my colleagues,” Minton said. “I look forward to working with the members of the court and the court of justice family in service to the citizens of the commonwealth.”

The fact that the other justices had this kind of faith in him is very humbling, Minton said.

“I have been receiving calls from all over southcentral Kentucky,” he said. “I am very grateful for all the support I’ve been receiving.”

The challenge in the job will be continuing to provide services with a reduced budget, Minton said.

One of Minton’s accomplishments while a judge in Warren County was the creation of drug court.

Through his job, Minton said he will continue to work to keep drug courts operating in Kentucky.

“We’re going to continue to emphasize drug court because I think it’s important,” Minton said.

Minton’s selection is not only a great day for the citizens of Warren County, but for all residents of Kentucky, said Chris Cohron, commonwealth’s attorney for Warren County.

“Chief Justice Minton has served as a lawyer, circuit judge, appellate judge and Supreme Court justice. I cannot think of a more qualified man for the position,” Cohron said.

He has the unique experience of working at nearly all levels of courts, Cohron said.

Minton will be responsible for overseeing the schedule of the Supreme Court and the entire administrative office of the courts, Cohron said.

It’s hard to put Minton’s selection into words, said Warren Circuit Judge Steve Wilson.

“I’ve known Chief Justice Minton since I was 18 years old,” he said. “You may not always agree with him, but you will understand his ruling and he articulates it very well.”

Minton’s experience at working at nearly every court level will make him able to work well with both sides of the aisle, Wilson said.

Minton was a good attorney and judge who was always respected by those he worked with, Wilson said.

“Justice Minton is an outstanding scholar and a person of unquestioned integrity,” said Lambert. “His experience serving as a judge for three levels of Kentucky courts equips him well to be an outstanding chief justice. I am delighted with his election.”

Western Kentucky University President Gary Ransdell said he has been close friends with Minton for 37 years.

“I’m not at all surprised with his selection. When John decided to be an attorney and then a judge, it was just a matter of time before he rose to the position of chief justice,” Ransdell said.

Minton has impeccable character, his judgment is superb and he is a caring person in both his personal and professional life, Ransdell said.

“I would trust him in any matter in any situation,” he said. “He is ideally suited to this job and for the state of Kentucky.”

Minton was elected to the Supreme Court in November 2006. He had been appointed to the court in July of that year to fill a vacancy created by retiring Supreme Court Justice William S. Cooper. Prior to his appointment to the Supreme Court, Minton served as a judge for the Kentucky Court of Appeals, representing the 2nd Appellate District. He was elected to the Court of Appeals in November 2003 and served there until his appointment to the Supreme Court.

He was a circuit judge from 1992 to 2003 for Warren County before being elected to the Court of Appeals. From 1996 to 2003, he also served as chief regional judge for the Green River Region, a 21-county area.

While on the circuit bench, Minton was recognized by the Kentucky Court of Justice for forming the Warren County Drug Court and for his commitment to law-related education programs. In 2003, the Kentucky Bar Association honored him with its Outstanding Judge Award. He is also a graduate of the National Judicial College.

Before his election to the Circuit Court bench, Minton practiced law in Bowling Green for nearly 15 years. He earned a bachelor's degree with honors in history and English from Western Kentucky University in 1974 and a law degree from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 1977.