Patricia M. Summe at a glance
- Current role
- Chief Circuit Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Kentucky · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Patricia M. Summe
Chief Circuit Judge · Kentucky 16th Judicial Circuit Court
Biography
Professional career
- Before her election to the bench in 1994, she practiced law in private practice, initially at her father’s law firm and later with her brother following her father’s passing
- Judge Summe also participates in public outreach and has discussed court operations during events such as the phased reopening of the Kenton County Justice Center during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Chief Circuit Judge, managing Division 4 of the Circuit Court, which includes scheduling hearings such as the Circuit Civil Motion Hour on the fourth Monday of each month
Education
- Patricia Summe earned her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Xavier University in 1975
- Salmon P. Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University — J.D.
Additional information
- She was re-elected without opposition in 2014 for an eight-year term that expired on January 1, 2023
- Outstanding Judge Award, Kentucky Bar Association (2009) Salmon P. Chase Alumni Association Exceptional Service Award (2006) Martin Luther King Award, Kenton County NAACP (2003) Kentucky Post Woman of the Year Award (1998) These honors reflect her contributions to the legal community and public service
- First elected to the 16th Judicial Circuit in 1994
- Judge Patricia Summe serves as Chief Circuit Judge in Division 4 of the 16th Judicial Circuit, which presides over Kenton County, Kentucky
- She oversees civil, criminal, and probate matters in the Circuit Court, which is the court of general jurisdiction handling cases such as capital offenses, felonies, land disputes, and contested probate cases
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Remote appearances
Statewide
Kentucky Court of Justice publishes statewide instructions for using Zoom to participate in remote court proceedings.
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 ↗
Statewide
Kentucky identifies Zoom as a platform that supports video, voice, and content sharing for desktops, mobile devices, phones, and room systems.
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 ↗
County Login Information
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.
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 ↗
Sources
Identity source checked July 29, 2026.
Biography sources checked July 29, 2026.
Kentucky Court of Justice official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 29, 2026
View Kentucky Court of Justice official judicial roster ↗Kentucky Court of Justice: Remote Court General Instructions
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Kentucky Court of Justice: Remote Court General Instructions ↗