---
title: "Daniel Ballou | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/daniel-ballou-chief-circuit-judge-kentucky-circuit-court-34th-judicial-circuit-division-1-ky"
page_type: "judge_profile"
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---

# Daniel Ballou

Kentucky 34th Judicial Circuit Court · Chief Circuit Judge

## Profile

- Court: Kentucky 34th Judicial Circuit Court
- State: Kentucky
- Role: Chief Circuit Judge
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-29

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### remote hearing platform

Scope: statewide

Kentucky Court of Justice publishes statewide instructions for using Zoom to participate in remote court proceedings.

Evidence excerpt: This page provides general instructions about how to use Zoom to participate in a remote court proceeding.

[Kentucky Court of Justice: Remote Court General Instructions](https://kycourts.gov/Courts/Pages/Remote-Court-Information.aspx)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### video voice content sharing

Scope: statewide

Kentucky identifies Zoom as a platform that supports video, voice, and content sharing for desktops, mobile devices, phones, and room systems.

Evidence excerpt: Zoom is a videoconferencing platform that offers video, voice and content sharing for desktops, mobile devices, phones and room systems.

[Kentucky Court of Justice: Remote Court General Instructions](https://kycourts.gov/Courts/Pages/Remote-Court-Information.aspx)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### county login information

Scope: statewide

Kentucky directs parties to obtain specific remote-court login information from the circuit court clerk for the county where they are scheduled to appear.

Evidence excerpt: To request specific login information for your court event, contact the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in the county in which you are scheduled to appear.

[Kentucky Court of Justice: Remote Court General Instructions](https://kycourts.gov/Courts/Pages/Remote-Court-Information.aspx)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/McCreary.aspx)
- [Official roster](https://kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/McCreary.aspx)
- [Kentucky Court of Justice official judicial roster](https://kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/McCreary.aspx)
- [Kentucky Court of Justice: Remote Court General Instructions](https://kycourts.gov/Courts/Pages/Remote-Court-Information.aspx)

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## Biography

### Professional career

- The Chief Circuit Judge of Kentucky’s 34th Judicial Circuit (McCreary and Whitley counties) and was nominated in August 2026 by President Donald Trump to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky

### Education

- B.A. in Political Science from the University of Kentucky in 1995 and a J.D. from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1998.

### Additional information

- Retired as a Major in 2015 after six overseas deployments, including Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Afghanistan, and Iraq
- Born November 15, 1965 in Knoxville, Tennessee, and raised in Williamsburg, Kentucky, Ballou completed studies at Williamsburg High School in 1984 and served seven years on active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining the Marine Corps Reserve.
- After law school, he clerked for Judge Eugene Siler Jr. on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit