---
title: "James W. Craft II | KnowJudges"
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---

# James W. Craft II

Kentucky 47th Judicial Circuit Court · Chief Circuit Judge

## Profile

- Court: Kentucky 47th 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/Letcher.aspx)
- [Official roster](https://kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/Letcher.aspx)
- [Kentucky Court of Justice official judicial roster](https://kycourts.gov/Courts/County-Information/Pages/Letcher.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


### Education

- James Craft II obtained a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky in 1990 and a J.D. from Thomas M. Cooley School of Law in 1994.

### Additional information

- Craft was appointed by Republican Governor Matt Bevin on July 5, 2016, to fill the vacancy left by Samuel T. Wright III, who joined the Kentucky Supreme Court.
- At the time of his appointment, Craft was already running for election and subsequently won the general election on November 8, 2016, defeating Darrell Hall.
- He is licensed to practice law in Kentucky and has experience in both state and federal courts, including the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, U.S. District Courts for Eastern and Western Kentucky, and U.S. Bankruptcy Courts