Ben Leonard

Ben Leonard, J.D., LL.M., currently serves as District Court Judge for the 5th Judicial Circuit in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, where he presides over civil and criminal cases.  He previously served as a prosecutor, handling felony and misdemeanor cases.  He was also in private practice for 19 years and practiced in the following areas: civil litigation, corporate matters, criminal defense, municipal law, bankruptcy law, estate planning and probate, family law, as well as real estate transactions.  Judge Leonard graduated with his Bachelor of Business of Business Administration (B.B.A.) from Eastern Kentucky University, Master of Science in Business Administration (M.S.B.A.) from the University of Memphis, Master of Theology (M.Th.) from Campbellsville University, Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from Saint Louis University, and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from Temple University. 

What is the best advice you have ever received?
Compete with yourself, not with others.

What Movie Could You Watch Repeatedly?
Rocky III and Rocky IV (I cannot pick between the two).

What is your favorite speech from a movie?
The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place, and I don't care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard you hit, it's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!  Now if you know what you're worth, then go out and get what you're worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain't you! You're better than that! I'm always gonna love you no matter what. No matter what happens. You're my son and you're my blood. You're the best thing in my life. But until you start believing in yourself, ya ain't gonna have a life. - Rocky Balboa (2006) (technically speaking Rocky VI).

Professional Licenses/Court Admissions:
Certificate of Admission to the Practice of Law-Commonwealth of Kentucky
Admitted to Practice before U.S. District Court-Western District of Kentucky
Certificate of Admission to the Practice of Law-State of Georgia (inactive)
Admitted to Practice before the Supreme Court of the United States of America

Publications:
The Evolution of Litigation, Bar Briefs, Volume 19, No. 6, June 2019.
The Art of Authenticating Digital Evidence, Bar Briefs, Volume 19, No. 2, February 2019
A Primer on Prelims, Kentucky Bench & Bar, Volume 80, January 2016.
A Second Opiner: To Be or Not to Be, Kentucky Bench & Bar, Volume 79, March 2015.