Kentucky court system spending data now on searchable state Web site; salary data later

Kentucky courts recently joined the "e-Transparency initiative" launched by the executive branch of state government this year. Judicial Branch expenditures and contracts are now posted at www.opendoor.ky.gov. (Click on Start Your Search at OpenDoor, then on Expenditure Search and then select Judicial Branch under Expenditure Search.)

There is a searchable database of line-item expenditures by the courts going back to January 2007. Salary information will be added in coming months, the office of Chief Justice John D. Minton Jr. said in a news release. “I’m pleased to join the Executive Branch in providing comprehensive financial information on the OpenDoor website,” Minton said. “This is part of our ongoing effort to increase the court system’s accountability to Kentucky taxpayers.”

The Judicial Branch is comprised of four levels of state courts – the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, Circuit Court and District Court. The Administrative Office of the Courts supports the activities of approximately 3,800 Kentucky Court of Justice employees, including the elected justices, judges and circuit court clerks.