Mike Van Meter has been appointed by Gov. Andy Beshear as Commonwealth’s Attorney for the 6th Judicial Circuit, which covers all of Daviess County. Van Meter assumes the seat left vacant by the retirement of Bruce Kuegel, and he is running for the position in the election later this year.
“I want to personally thank Gov. Andy Beshear for the opportunity to continue prosecuting in Daviess County, as I have done for the last 29 years. I also want to thank all of those individuals who reached out to the Governor’s Office on my behalf to secure the appointment,” Van Meter said. “Under my leadership, the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney will hold people responsible for violating the law and protect the rights of citizens to ensure they will be safe in our community.”
Van Meter was sworn in by Circuit Judge Jay Wethington at a private ceremony at his parent’s home on Ford Avenue on Tuesday.
Several friends and family attended the event including Van Meter’s wife Jenny — who held the Bible during the ceremony — along with Kuegel, Circuit Judge Lisa Payne Jones, Judge Tom Castlen, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney J. Nick Payne, and Sheriff Brad Youngman. Castlen, Wethington, and Kuegel are the past three Commonwealth’s Attorneys for Daviess County.
Castlen first hired Van Meter as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney in 1994. Van Meter has been with the office since that time and has served as the First Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney since 2015.
Van Meter, who filed candidacy paperwork for the Commonwealth’s Attorney seat in December, will hold this appointment through the 2024 General Election.
