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 "excerpt": "Joseph H. McKinley, Jr. is an American jurist, a United States district judge for the Western District of Kentucky since 1995, nominated by President Clinton.",
 "snippet": "Joseph H. McKinley, Jr. is an American jurist, a United States district judge for the Western District of Kentucky since 1995, nominated by President Clinton.",
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 "markdown": "# Joseph H. McKinley, Jr.\n\nJoseph H. McKinley, Jr. (born 1954) is an American jurist and a senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, serving on that court since 1995.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1384771)</sup> He was nominated to the court by President William J. Clinton in 1995.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1384771)</sup> He served as chief judge of the district from 2011 to 2018 and assumed senior status on June 9, 2019.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1384771)</sup>\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Court | U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1384771)</sup> |\n| Appointed by | William J. Clinton<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1384771)</sup> |\n| Confirmed | August 11, 1995, by voice vote<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1384771)</sup> |\n| Senior status | June 9, 2019<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1384771)</sup> |\n| Born | 1954, Owensboro, Kentucky<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1384771)</sup> |\n| Education | B.S., University of Kentucky, 1976; J.D., University of Louisville School of Law (now Louis D. Brandeis School of Law), 1979<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1384771)</sup> |\n\n## Early life and education\n\nMcKinley was born in 1954 in [Owensboro, Kentucky](https://www.edgepedia.org/owensboro-kentucky).<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1384771)</sup> He received a [Bachelor of Science](https://www.edgepedia.org/bachelor-of-science) degree from the [University of Kentucky](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-kentucky) in 1976 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Louisville School of Law, now the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law, in 1979.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1384771)</sup>\n\n## Legal career\n\nMcKinley entered private practice in Owensboro, Kentucky, in 1979, practicing there until 1991.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1384771)</sup> At the Owensboro law firm of Meyer, Hutchinson, McKinley & Haynes, where he was a partner, he specialized in commercial and civil litigation.<sup>[2](https://clintonwhitehouse6.archives.gov/1995/05/1995-05-24-president-names-three-to-federal-district-bench.html)</sup> While in private practice, he served as a commissioner on the Kentucky Oil and Gas Conservation Commission from 1982 to 1990 and as an assistant Daviess County attorney from 1985 to 1987.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1384771)</sup> From 1990 to 1991 he was a hearing officer for the Kentucky Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1384771)</sup>\n\nIn 1992, McKinley became a judge on the Kentucky Circuit Court, Sixth Judicial Circuit, First Division, serving until 1995.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1384771)</sup> The White House announcement of his federal nomination described him as having served as a judge on the Daviess County Circuit Court since 1992.<sup>[2](https://clintonwhitehouse6.archives.gov/1995/05/1995-05-24-president-names-three-to-federal-district-bench.html)</sup>\n\n## Federal judicial service\n\nPresident William J. Clinton nominated McKinley to the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky on May 24, 1995.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1384771)</sup> The nomination was one of three district court nominations announced by the White House that day, alongside [Robert H. Whaley](https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-h-whaley) for the Eastern District of Washington and [B. Lynn Winmill](https://www.edgepedia.org/b-l-winmill) for the District of Idaho.<sup>[2](https://clintonwhitehouse6.archives.gov/1995/05/1995-05-24-president-names-three-to-federal-district-bench.html)</sup> The Senate confirmed McKinley by voice vote on August 11, 1995, and he received his commission on August 14, 1995.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1384771)</sup>\n\nMcKinley served as chief judge of the Western District of Kentucky from 2011 to 2018.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1384771)</sup> He assumed senior status on June 9, 2019, and continues to serve as a senior judge.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1384771)</sup>\n\n## References\n\n1. [Biographical Directory of Article III Federal Judges: Joseph H. McKinley, Jr.](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1384771)\n2. [President Names Three to Federal District Bench](https://clintonwhitehouse6.archives.gov/1995/05/1995-05-24-president-names-three-to-federal-district-bench.html)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Law and justice › Courts and legal practice › Legal biographies › United States judges › US federal judges › Article III judges (district and appellate) › United States district court judges › Surnames Mc to My*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026 · Last review: Sep 29, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n",
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 "credit": "\"Joseph H. McKinley, Jr.\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/joseph-h-mckinley-jr. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.",
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 "speakable": "Joseph H. McKinley, Jr. is an American jurist, a United States district judge for the Western District of Kentucky since 1995, nominated by President Clinton."
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