ALL FEDERAL CRIMINAL AND CIVIL COURT PROCEEDINGS TO BE MOVED OUT OF PIKEVILLE BY LAST DAY OF 2025
JUDICIAL ORDER MADE IN LATE OCTOBER 2025, SPLITS COUNTIES INTO TWO NEW FEDERAL COURTHOUSE DESIGNATIONS
DECEMBER 23, 2025 – written by WADE QUEEN
The days of federal court trials and hearings being held in Pikeville, Kentucky are coming to an end, following an order issued by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning on October 31, 2025.
The Pikeville federal courthouse currently serves Pike County, Floyd County, Johnson County, Knott County, Letcher County, Magoffin County and Martin County. According to the order, all pending and new cases will be reassigned to other federal courthouses after December 31.
Under the new arrangement, cases arising from Pike County, Floyd County, Knott County and Letcher County will now be assigned to the London, KY. federal courthouse in Laurel County. Those arising from Johnson County, Magoffin County or Martin County will be assigned to the Ashland, KY. federal courthouse in Boyd County.A copy of the order follows:
(a) If arising in Johnson, Magoffin or Martin Counties, Kentucky, to the Ashland Division; (b) If arising in Pike, Letcher, Floyd or Knott Counties, Kentucky, to the London Division. 3. That all matters filed on or after January 1, 2026 shall be assigned as follows: (a) If arising in Johnson, Magoffin or Martin Counties, Kentucky, such cases shall be filed at the Ashland Division of the Court; (b) If arising in Pike, Letcher, Floyd or Knott Counties, Kentucky, such cases shall be filed at the London Division of the Court. 4. That Johnson, Magoffin and Martin Counties, Kentucky are hereby transferred to and shall constitute one of the counties serving and served by the Ashland Division of the Court for all purposes; 5. That Pike, Letcher, Floyd and Knott Counties, Kentucky are hereby transferred to and shall constitute one of the counties serving and served by the London Division of the Court for all purposes.
This 31st day of October, 2025.
Signed By:
David L. Bunning DB
Chief United States District Judge
CERTIFICATION OF CONSENT
This is to certify that, in accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 140(a), the foregoing order pretermitting all further business of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky at Pikeville has been duly received and consented to by the Judicial Council for the Sixth Circuit of the United States. This 29th day of October 2025. Jeffrey S. Sutton, Chief Judge United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
