How Kentucky DUI courts are organised
A DUI charge in Kentucky is prosecuted in the District Court that serves the county or municipality where the stop happened, not where you live. The clerk's office in that courthouse controls your hearing dates, accepts motions and continuances, and takes payment of fines and court costs. Calendars, filing hours and remote-appearance rules differ from courthouse to courthouse, so confirm them with the clerk before your first date.
Kentucky district courts handle misdemeanor DUI, a first through third offense, while circuit courts try felony DUI — a fourth or later offense within the statutory lookback. Appeals run from district court to circuit court or the Kentucky Court of Appeals depending on posture, with further review by the Kentucky Supreme Court.
The state judiciary publishes the authoritative directory of courthouses, judges and calendars at kycourts.gov. Use it to confirm the address and division for your case number; local listings age quickly.
Courthouse locations, hearing calendars, clerk contacts and self-help forms.
The separate licence action, which the criminal court does not decide.
What happens at each stage in Kentucky
A DUI case in Kentucky is heard in the District Court, and it runs on two tracks at once: the criminal case and a separate licence action you must challenge within 30 days of arrest.
- 1Arrest, booking and the chemical test — Officers arrest for DUI under KRS 189A.010 and request a breath, blood or urine test under Kentucky's implied-consent section, KRS 189A.103. Refusing carries its own licence penalty, separate from the criminal charge.
- 2Licence action — request a hearing within 30 days — The Cabinet applies a fixed suspension period keyed to the type of DUI conviction. You have 30 days from arrest to demand the administrative hearing with Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Division of Driver Licensing; miss it and the suspension takes effect automatically, whatever happens in court.
- 3Arraignment in the District Court — The charge is read, a plea is entered and conditions of release are set in the District Court. Kentucky district courts handle misdemeanor DUI, a first through third offense, while circuit courts try felony DUI — a fourth or later offense within the statutory lookback.
- 4Pretrial motions and discovery — Defence counsel obtains the police report, test records and calibration or maintenance logs, and may move to suppress the stop or the test result. Kentucky courts use the Court of Justice's statewide eFiling system.
- 5Plea or trial, then sentencing — A first DUI conviction carries a fine of $200–$500, jail exposure up to 30 days, a licence suspension of 4 months, an ignition interlock requirement. Prior offenses within 10 years push the case into the enhanced-penalty range. A first offense carries a fine, possible jail, suspension, and interlock eligibility.
- 6Reinstatement — Reinstatement generally requires completing an alcohol or substance abuse education or treatment programme. Kentucky requires a SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility for 2 years before the licence is restored.
Filing and case handling in Kentucky
- Kentucky courts use the Court of Justice's statewide eFiling system.
- The Transportation Cabinet, not the court, applies the fixed DUI suspension periods effective 1 July 2020.
- The Kentucky Ignition Interlock Program is available to eligible DUI offenders.
- The Cabinet's myDrive portal is replacing earlier systems for reinstatement and other driver services.
Whatever the local practice, take your citation or case number to every call — clerks index by case, not by name — and get the payable amount for fines and court costs in writing before you pay.
Kentucky ZIP codes covered
These Kentucky ZIP-code pages carry the local court, filing and licensing detail for the area, and each one links back to this resource page.
Counties and cities using these Kentucky resources
Counties
Other Kentucky official resources
Frequently asked questions
- Which court handles a first DUI charge in Kentucky?
- First-offense DUI cases in Kentucky are heard in the District Court for the county where the stop happened. The court clerk's office there sets the arraignment date and accepts filings.
- Does the court case decide whether I keep my licence in Kentucky?
- No. The criminal case and the administrative licence action run separately. The licence action is handled by the KY driver-licensing agency, and the request for a hearing is due within 30 days of arrest.