Good afternoon, Fancy Farm.

I'm Judge Lisa Payne Jones and I am your Court of Appeals judge here in great County and in all 23 counties are the first appellate district from Davis down to Todd and Logan, all the way over to Fulton.

This picnic is legendary, and I'm so honored to take part in this great tradition.

Thank you to St Jerome's Parish and Father VENTERS.

Thank you to Steve Elder for coordinating the speakers.

Thank you to all the cooks, especially Mike Carrico, for the tour of the pits, and thank you to all the volunteers who make this picnic.

The talk of Kentucky year after year after year.

Thank you to my family and my friends, many of whom joined me here yesterday and today, without fail, you have my back and I have you in my heart.

I have a big job today to get you excited about a down ballot, nonpartisan race for a court that largely avoids the limelight.

But the Court of Appeals matters, and I am honored to be your judge.

A good judge does more than promise to uphold the law.

A good judge brings people together.

No matter your politics, your pronouns, or your profession of faith.

Everyone wants to have their voice heard.

You want to be treated with respect.

You want to be treated fairly.

You want to know what happened with your case and why You deserve a judge who cares about those things that we all have in common.

I serve the people of Davis County for over 22 years on the district and the circuit bench, whether it was a speeding ticket or a murder trial, a loved one is a state, an abused child or a person struggling with mental illness or addiction.

I listen to their stories.

I've been patient.

I've been firm.

Sometimes I cried.

Sometimes I got a little red in the face.

But I always kept in mind that each case, no matter the subject, was the most important case on my docket to that person in front of me that day and how I treated them, how I explained my decision affected how they felt about the entire justice system.

That's an incredible responsibility and one that I cherish.

Now as your Court of Appeals judge in the First District, I don't just serve Davis County, but all the First District, and that's another responsibility that I take seriously.

You are my community.

As I've campaigned, I've learned about efforts to bring new jobs to our former coal mining towns.

I've learned about the maritime industry in Paducah.

I started in Henderson at the W.C.

Handy Blues Fest.

I've eaten barbecue on the square in Hopkinsville and Saint Denis and Saint Charles and Owensboro and here at Fancy Farm, I've mourned the dwindling number of attorneys in our rural areas.

I picked flowers in Livingston County, and I've celebrated the resilience of our storm stricken communities.

I've prayed with you.

I've shared meals with lawyers and farmers, with business leaders and teachers and so many others.

The first appellate District is home to the friendliest people in the state and the best barbecue.

I care about your cases, your families, your communities and the law.

I'd be grateful for your vote in November so that I can continue to serve you on Kentucky's Court of Appeals.

Thank you all so much.