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Meet Judge Audra Eckerle
Jefferson County Judicial Center
700 West Jefferson Street
Louisville, KY 40202
Work (502) 595-4103
Judge Audra Eckerle has been in the Courtrooms for three decades.
700 West Jefferson Street
Louisville, KY 40202
Work (502) 595-4103
Judge Audra Eckerle has been in the Courtrooms for three decades.
DISTINGUISHED CAREER
Judge, Jefferson County Circuit Court
November 2007 – Present
Presides as Judge over jury and bench trials involving criminal felonies and civil cases where more than $5,000.00 is in controversy; conducts hearings, motions, and conferences; prepares oral and written findings of fact and conclusions of law; drafts jury instructions; issues rulings and orders; sets bonds; signs search warrants, arrest warrants, and summonses; swears witnesses; performs marriage ceremonies; and supervises staff attorney, law student extern, bench clerk, stepping clerk, and secretary.
November 2007 – Present
Presides as Judge over jury and bench trials involving criminal felonies and civil cases where more than $5,000.00 is in controversy; conducts hearings, motions, and conferences; prepares oral and written findings of fact and conclusions of law; drafts jury instructions; issues rulings and orders; sets bonds; signs search warrants, arrest warrants, and summonses; swears witnesses; performs marriage ceremonies; and supervises staff attorney, law student extern, bench clerk, stepping clerk, and secretary.
Chief Judge, Jefferson County Circuit Court
January 2012 – December 2013
Voted into position unanimously by all sitting Circuit Court Judges; in addition to regular duties as Circuit Judge, handled all administrative matters in Circuit Court, including chairing and attending meetings of inter-agency groups, such as the Planning & Coordinating Council, Crime Commission, Domestic Violence Prevention Coordinating Council, Jail Policy Commission, Louisville Bar Association, Emergency Management Committee, and Restitution Committee; served as spokeswoman and media point person for the Jefferson Circuit Judges; conducted meetings and presided over votes of the Jefferson County Circuit Court Judges; read all jury excuses for 300 person panel every two weeks and granted excuses, postponements, or denials; spearheaded administrative improvements, such as security and heating and air; hired, terminated, and disciplined personnel; and responded to numerous requests for information from varied sources.
January 2012 – December 2013
Voted into position unanimously by all sitting Circuit Court Judges; in addition to regular duties as Circuit Judge, handled all administrative matters in Circuit Court, including chairing and attending meetings of inter-agency groups, such as the Planning & Coordinating Council, Crime Commission, Domestic Violence Prevention Coordinating Council, Jail Policy Commission, Louisville Bar Association, Emergency Management Committee, and Restitution Committee; served as spokeswoman and media point person for the Jefferson Circuit Judges; conducted meetings and presided over votes of the Jefferson County Circuit Court Judges; read all jury excuses for 300 person panel every two weeks and granted excuses, postponements, or denials; spearheaded administrative improvements, such as security and heating and air; hired, terminated, and disciplined personnel; and responded to numerous requests for information from varied sources.
Chief Judge, Jefferson County District Court
December 2006 – November 2007
Elected by vote of fellow judges on the Jefferson District Court bench; supervised the administrative business of the Court and gave general direction to and supervised the non-judicial personnel; represented and spoke for the entire District Court bench in dealings with the public and the media; served on numerous boards and commissions, including the Louisville Bar Association Board of Directors, the Planning and Coordinating Council of the Court, and the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committee; and performed regular duties of District Court Judge.
December 2006 – November 2007
Elected by vote of fellow judges on the Jefferson District Court bench; supervised the administrative business of the Court and gave general direction to and supervised the non-judicial personnel; represented and spoke for the entire District Court bench in dealings with the public and the media; served on numerous boards and commissions, including the Louisville Bar Association Board of Directors, the Planning and Coordinating Council of the Court, and the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committee; and performed regular duties of District Court Judge.
Judge, Jefferson County District Court
January 2004 – November 2007
Presided as judge over jury and bench trials involving criminal misdemeanors and civil cases where less than $4,000.00 was in controversy, hearings, motions, and conferences; prepared oral and written findings of fact and conclusions of law; prepared jury instructions; issued rulings and orders; set bonds; reviewed emergency petitions and protective orders, temporary custody requests, mental inquest warrants, search warrants, arrest warrants and summonses; analyzed proposed probate and disability/guardianship settlements; swore witnesses; and performed marriage ceremonies.
January 2004 – November 2007
Presided as judge over jury and bench trials involving criminal misdemeanors and civil cases where less than $4,000.00 was in controversy, hearings, motions, and conferences; prepared oral and written findings of fact and conclusions of law; prepared jury instructions; issued rulings and orders; set bonds; reviewed emergency petitions and protective orders, temporary custody requests, mental inquest warrants, search warrants, arrest warrants and summonses; analyzed proposed probate and disability/guardianship settlements; swore witnesses; and performed marriage ceremonies.
Assistant County Attorney
November 2003 – January 2004
Prosecuted criminal actions in Warrant Court; extensive contact with victims and defendants; argued motions and probable cause hearings for felonies and misdemeanors; attended and argued at trials.
November 2003 – January 2004
Prosecuted criminal actions in Warrant Court; extensive contact with victims and defendants; argued motions and probable cause hearings for felonies and misdemeanors; attended and argued at trials.
KNOWLEDGEABLE
Honors Graduate, Sacred Heart Academy, 1984
Universite de Pau, France, 1986
Universite de Paris, France, 1987
Universite de Pau, France, 1986
Universite de Paris, France, 1987
- Course work included French Civilization, Art History, Architecture, Political Science and International Law
- Fluent in French language
Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, Summa Cum Laude,
University of California, Davis June 1988
University of California, Davis June 1988
- Recipient, Outstanding Senior Award
- Recipient, Citation for Outstanding Achievement in Political Science
- Recipient, Edward Frank Kraft Scholarship for High Achievement
- Member, Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society
- Member, Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Honor Society
- Member, Prytanean National Women’s Honor Society
- Member, Golden Key National Honor Society
- Dean’s List Scholar
Doctor of Jurisprudence, Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California, Berkeley May 1991
- Associate Editor, California Law Review
- Author, “De-Regulating the Privilege Against Self-Incrimination”
- Member, Moot Court Board
- Recipient, Award for Excellence in Written Advocacy, Moot Court Program
CIVIC LEADER
Trustee, Sacred Heart Schools
Director, Blackacre Conservancy Board
Member, Kentucky and Louisville Bar Associations
Charter Fellow, Louisville Bar Foundation
Member, Louisville Forum
Member, Executives Club of Louisville
Member, Women Lawyers’ Association of Jefferson County
Donor, Sacred Heart Schools, St. Angela Merici Circle Pavers
Recipient, Women Lawyer’s Association, 2014 Member of the Year Award
Recipient, Business First 40 Under 40 Award
Recipient, Continuing Legal Education Award
Past Director, Sacred Heart Academy Alumnae Board
Past Director, Louisville Bar Association Board
Past President, Member Services Committee, Louisville Bar Association
Past-Chair, Kentucky Derby Festival Pegasus Parade Equestrian Units
Past Officer, Women Lawyers’ Association
Past Member, Louisville Metro Criminal Justice Commission
Past Member, Planning and Coordinating Council of the Courts
Past Member, Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committee
Past Member, Disproportionate Minority Confinement Committee
Past Member, Bench Warrant Subcommittee
Past Member, Kentucky Bar Association Annual Convention Committee
Past Member, Kentucky Bar Association Annual Convention CLE Committee
Past Member, Kentucky Circuit Judges’ Workflow Advisory Committee
Past Member, Chief Justice’s Commission to Investigate Destruction of Court Records
Past Member, Louis D. Brandeis American Inn of Court
Past President & Member, Board of Directors, Louisville Forum
Past Member, Focus Louisville Alumni Group
Past Member, Thoroughbreds, Kentucky Derby Festival Volunteers
Nominee, Most Admired Woman, Political Category, Today’s Woman
Nominee, Business & Professional Women’s Association’s Woman of Achievement Award
Nominee, NASD Dispute Resolution Roster of Arbitrators
Volunteer, Louisville Bar Association Call-A-Lawyer Program
Volunteer, Mock Trial Competitions Judge, University of Louisville Law School
Volunteer, American Heart Association, Crystal Heart Gala Committee
Volunteer, Habitat for Humanity
Volunteer, Pitt Academy Barbeque
Volunteer, Salvation Army Bell Ringers
Volunteer and Donor, Step Out for Justice Campaign
Speaker, Leadership Conference, KY Youth Development Foundation, Louisville Chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars, November 2018
Speaker, Kentucky Circuit Judges’ Judicial College, 2015 and 2013
Speaker, Effective Legal Writing in Circuit Court, KBA Convention, 6/20/13
Speaker, Views from the Bench: Roundtable of Chief Judges, LBA, 6/13/13
Speaker, Kentucky Bar Association Young Lawyers’ Section, The State Court System, Why Diversity Matters, 6/5/12
Speaker, National Business Institute’s Civil Court Judicial Forum, 3/12/10
Speaker, National Business Institute’s What Civil Court Judges Want You to Know, 6/24/11
Speaker, Bellarmine University
Speaker, “Judgment Day,” University of Louisville’s Alcohol Awareness Mock Court Program
Speaker, Summer Law Institute
Speaker, STAND Program re Drunk Driving Dangers to Sacred Heart, Trinity, Collegiate and Waggener High Schools
Speaker, Various High Schools Regarding Consequences of Drunk Driving
Speaker, Sacred Heart Academy High School, Career Day
Speaker, Assumption High School
Speaker, Atherton High School Students
Speaker, St. Pius Elementary School
Speaker, Judges in the Classroom, Jefferson County Public Schools
Speaker, Governor’s Scholars
Speaker, Panel Discussion on Civility and Professionalism, Young Lawyers Section
Speaker, Jury Pools of Jefferson Circuit and District Court
Speaker, Trial by Jury, Kentucky Academy of Trial Attorneys, State Fair
Speaker, Kentuckiana Air Education Campaign
Speaker, Mergers and Acquisitions, Issues for Corporate Counsel, 5/7/98
Speaker, Launching Women Leaders, Conference for Young Women, 10/20/00
Speaker, Metropolitan Louisville Women’s Political Caucus
Charter Contributor, Restoration of the Old State Capitol Law Library, Frankfort, KY
Sponsor, Ducks Unlimited
Circle of Home, Center for Women and Families
Member, Chi Omega Sorority Alumnae Group
Participant, Panel on Crime & Drugs in the Community, Justice Resource Center
Participant, Business & Professional Women’s Week Program
Past Member, Kentucky Commission on Corrections and Community Service
Past Member, Louisville Bar Association CLE Committee
Past Chair, Marketing Committee Stage One “Stagehands” Volunteer Board
Past Member, National Association of Women Business Owners
Past Member, Young Professionals Association of Louisville
Past Member, Business and Professional Women of River City
Past Member, Kiwanis Club of Louisville
Recipient, Delahanty Shobe Tucker Humanitarian Award
Registrant, Nationwide Who’s Who in Executives and Business
Grand Marshal, Pride’s Motorcade and Rally Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Admitted to Practice before the United States Supreme Court, U.S. District Court,
Eastern & Western Districts of Kentucky
Director, Blackacre Conservancy Board
Member, Kentucky and Louisville Bar Associations
Charter Fellow, Louisville Bar Foundation
Member, Louisville Forum
Member, Executives Club of Louisville
Member, Women Lawyers’ Association of Jefferson County
Donor, Sacred Heart Schools, St. Angela Merici Circle Pavers
Recipient, Women Lawyer’s Association, 2014 Member of the Year Award
Recipient, Business First 40 Under 40 Award
Recipient, Continuing Legal Education Award
Past Director, Sacred Heart Academy Alumnae Board
Past Director, Louisville Bar Association Board
Past President, Member Services Committee, Louisville Bar Association
Past-Chair, Kentucky Derby Festival Pegasus Parade Equestrian Units
Past Officer, Women Lawyers’ Association
Past Member, Louisville Metro Criminal Justice Commission
Past Member, Planning and Coordinating Council of the Courts
Past Member, Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committee
Past Member, Disproportionate Minority Confinement Committee
Past Member, Bench Warrant Subcommittee
Past Member, Kentucky Bar Association Annual Convention Committee
Past Member, Kentucky Bar Association Annual Convention CLE Committee
Past Member, Kentucky Circuit Judges’ Workflow Advisory Committee
Past Member, Chief Justice’s Commission to Investigate Destruction of Court Records
Past Member, Louis D. Brandeis American Inn of Court
Past President & Member, Board of Directors, Louisville Forum
Past Member, Focus Louisville Alumni Group
Past Member, Thoroughbreds, Kentucky Derby Festival Volunteers
Nominee, Most Admired Woman, Political Category, Today’s Woman
Nominee, Business & Professional Women’s Association’s Woman of Achievement Award
Nominee, NASD Dispute Resolution Roster of Arbitrators
Volunteer, Louisville Bar Association Call-A-Lawyer Program
Volunteer, Mock Trial Competitions Judge, University of Louisville Law School
Volunteer, American Heart Association, Crystal Heart Gala Committee
Volunteer, Habitat for Humanity
Volunteer, Pitt Academy Barbeque
Volunteer, Salvation Army Bell Ringers
Volunteer and Donor, Step Out for Justice Campaign
Speaker, Leadership Conference, KY Youth Development Foundation, Louisville Chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars, November 2018
Speaker, Kentucky Circuit Judges’ Judicial College, 2015 and 2013
Speaker, Effective Legal Writing in Circuit Court, KBA Convention, 6/20/13
Speaker, Views from the Bench: Roundtable of Chief Judges, LBA, 6/13/13
Speaker, Kentucky Bar Association Young Lawyers’ Section, The State Court System, Why Diversity Matters, 6/5/12
Speaker, National Business Institute’s Civil Court Judicial Forum, 3/12/10
Speaker, National Business Institute’s What Civil Court Judges Want You to Know, 6/24/11
Speaker, Bellarmine University
Speaker, “Judgment Day,” University of Louisville’s Alcohol Awareness Mock Court Program
Speaker, Summer Law Institute
Speaker, STAND Program re Drunk Driving Dangers to Sacred Heart, Trinity, Collegiate and Waggener High Schools
Speaker, Various High Schools Regarding Consequences of Drunk Driving
Speaker, Sacred Heart Academy High School, Career Day
Speaker, Assumption High School
Speaker, Atherton High School Students
Speaker, St. Pius Elementary School
Speaker, Judges in the Classroom, Jefferson County Public Schools
Speaker, Governor’s Scholars
Speaker, Panel Discussion on Civility and Professionalism, Young Lawyers Section
Speaker, Jury Pools of Jefferson Circuit and District Court
Speaker, Trial by Jury, Kentucky Academy of Trial Attorneys, State Fair
Speaker, Kentuckiana Air Education Campaign
Speaker, Mergers and Acquisitions, Issues for Corporate Counsel, 5/7/98
Speaker, Launching Women Leaders, Conference for Young Women, 10/20/00
Speaker, Metropolitan Louisville Women’s Political Caucus
Charter Contributor, Restoration of the Old State Capitol Law Library, Frankfort, KY
Sponsor, Ducks Unlimited
Circle of Home, Center for Women and Families
Member, Chi Omega Sorority Alumnae Group
Participant, Panel on Crime & Drugs in the Community, Justice Resource Center
Participant, Business & Professional Women’s Week Program
Past Member, Kentucky Commission on Corrections and Community Service
Past Member, Louisville Bar Association CLE Committee
Past Chair, Marketing Committee Stage One “Stagehands” Volunteer Board
Past Member, National Association of Women Business Owners
Past Member, Young Professionals Association of Louisville
Past Member, Business and Professional Women of River City
Past Member, Kiwanis Club of Louisville
Recipient, Delahanty Shobe Tucker Humanitarian Award
Registrant, Nationwide Who’s Who in Executives and Business
Grand Marshal, Pride’s Motorcade and Rally Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Admitted to Practice before the United States Supreme Court, U.S. District Court,
Eastern & Western Districts of Kentucky