From NKAA, Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (main entry)

Clayton, Denise

(born: 1952) 

Judge Denise Clayton was born in Louisville, KY. In 2000, Clayton became the first African American woman appointed to a circuit judgeship in Kentucky when Governor Paul Patton appointed her to the 30th Judicial Circuit, Division 7. Clayton graduated from the University of Louisville Law School and was admitted to the bar in 1976. In 1996, she became the second African American woman judge in the state; she was a Family Court judge. In 2007, Judge Clayton became the first African American woman on the Kentucky appeals court; the appointment was made by Governor Ernie Fletcher. Judge Clayton is the granddaughter of Atwood S. Wilson. She is a graduate of Defiance College and the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law. For more see the Louisville Defender, 10/12/2000; "Historic choice, new circuit judge has broken barriers before," Lexington Herald-Leader, 10/20/2007, Commentary section, p. A12; and "The Honorable Denise Clayton" in Who's Who in Black Louisville, 2nd ed. See Denise Clayton, Judge a Kentucky Court of Justice webpage.

Kentucky County & Region

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Kentucky Place (Town or City)

Read about Louisville, Kentucky in Wikipedia.

Item Relations

Cited in this Entry

NKAA Entry: Wilson, Atwood S.
NKAA Source: The Louisville defender (newspaper)
NKAA Source: Lexington herald-leader (newspaper)
NKAA Source: Who's who in black Louisville (serial)

Related Entries Citing this Entry

NKAA Entry: Wilson, Atwood S.

Cite This NKAA Entry:

“Clayton, Denise,” Notable Kentucky African Americans Database, accessed July 26, 2024, https://nkaa.uky.edu/nkaa/index.php/items/show/1081.

Last modified: 2022-02-25 19:44:06