HomeAbout the Initiative

About the Initiative

The John G. Heyburn II Initiative for Excellence in the Federal Judiciary is a non-partisan endeavor devoted to the preservation and study of federal judicial history, with a particular focus on Kentuckians' contributions to American legal discourse and the interaction of our three branches of government. Established in 2016 as a partnership between University of Kentucky Libraries and the Rosenberg College of Law, the Heyburn Initiative honors the late John G. Heyburn II, senior judge on the Western District Court of Kentucky from 1992 to 2015. The mission of the Heyburn Initiative is drawn from what inspired Judge Heyburn to leadership in the Federal Judiciary: "to ever improve the legal system considered the envy of the world." 

What We Do

Conferences & Speakers

Organize conferences and other programs to enable study and exploration of federal court issues that are both about and for the Federal Judiciary. 

Archives & Oral Histories

Document federal justices and judges with ties to Kentucky through oral histories and archival collections.

Student Awards

Provide opportunities for law students to learn from federal judges, court officials, and scholars of the Federal Judiciary.

Inspiration

Create small-group interactions between Initiative speakers and students in ways that speak to the higher aspirations of both groups.

Who We Are

Advisory Board

Federal Judicial Advisory Panel

Ex Officio Members

University of Kentucky Support