William E. McAnulty Jr. facts for kids

William Eugene McAnulty Jr. (born October 9, 1947 – died August 23, 2007) was an American lawyer and judge from Louisville, Kentucky. He made history by becoming the first African American justice on the Kentucky Supreme Court. He served as a judge at every level of court in Kentucky.

Early Life and Education

William McAnulty Jr. was the son of a mailman. He attended Shortridge High School and then went to Indiana University. He later earned his law degree, called a J.D., from the University of Louisville School of Law.

A Career in Law and Justice

William McAnulty Jr. had a long and important career in the legal system.

Becoming a Judge

In 1975, McAnulty started his career as a juvenile court judge in Louisville. He was then elected as a Jefferson County District Court judge in 1977.

Serving in State Government

In 1980, he took a break from being a judge. Governor John Y. Brown Jr. chose him to be the state justice secretary. This made him the first African American to hold such a high position in Kentucky's government. However, he decided to leave this role a month later. He felt the job would take too much time away from his family. Governor Brown quickly put him back in his old judge position on the District Court.

Circuit Court Judge

McAnulty was elected as a Jefferson County Circuit Court judge in 1983. His sister, Jean McAnulty Smith, shared a fun story from that election day. He played a one-on-one basketball game against a 12-year-old neighbor. This neighbor later became NBA star Allan Houston. McAnulty ended up going to his victory party on crutches because of the game!

As a Circuit Court judge, he handled many important cases. One of these was a high-profile case known as the Trinity murders. He made difficult decisions, even when they went against his personal beliefs.

Returning to the Bench

In 1990, McAnulty worked in private law practice for a while. But he was re-elected to the Jefferson County Circuit Court in 1993, becoming the chief judge. In 1997, the Kentucky Trial Attorneys Association honored him. They named him the Henry V. Pennington Outstanding Judge of the Year.

Serving on Higher Courts

In 1998, he was appointed to the Kentucky Court of Appeals. He represented the 4th Appellate District and wrote about 750 legal opinions during his time there.

In 2006, Governor Ernie Fletcher appointed McAnulty to the Kentucky Supreme Court. This was a very important moment, as he became the first African American justice on this highest court in Kentucky. After his appointment, he won an election in November 2006 to serve a full 8-year term.

McAnulty also strongly supported the Legal Aid Society of Louisville. He spoke at their office opening in 2006. He also helped create a program for HIV/AIDS legal support through the Metro United Way board, where he was the chair.

Health Challenges

In June 2007, McAnulty was diagnosed with a serious illness. He had been a smoker for many years but had stopped in December 2006. He faced his illness with courage and even humor. Before a surgery in July, he joked with his doctor. He asked if the surgery would make him a UK fan or change his political views. The doctor assured him it wouldn't!

Later Life and Legacy

In early August 2007, McAnulty had a fall and broke his collarbone. He stepped down from his judge position shortly after. He passed away at his home in Louisville on August 23, 2007, at the age of 59.

A large memorial service was held for him on August 26, 2007, at Highland Presbyterian Church. He was buried at Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville. To honor his contributions, a special statue, called a bust, of Judge McAnulty was revealed. It is located in the State Capitol in Frankfort, Kentucky, near the Supreme Court courtroom. This happened on February 11, 2010.

See also

• List of African-American jurists