James David (JD) Meyer has been licensed to practice law for 21 years. Two of those years, he spent as a federal law clerk for Judge McKinley and then went into private practice with his father at Meyer & Meyer, LLP.
For six years, Meyer has served on the Kentucky Bar Association (KBA) board of governors, which Meyer said oversees all aspects of Kentucky law. He has enjoyed being more involved in creating budgets and the oversight of employees.
This year, Meyer ran for vice president of the KBA. He had to acquire the signature of each of the seven Supreme Court judges for all seven Kentucky Supreme Court districts and submit them with his application to run.
Meyer ran unopposed and will begin his term July 1 as Vice President of the KBA. He will serve on the board of governors, which consists of two representatives from each of the seven Supreme Court districts, the President-elect, President, and Past President. They meet seven times a year. Meyer also attends regional and national bar association conferences.
“There I can learn about hot topics other bar associations are facing,” Meyer said.
Meyer said that one of the many tasks the board of governors is challenged with is overseeing the administration of the KBA. Within the KBA, there are multiple committees in special areas and the governing board is there to guide attorneys.
The KBA has a staff of about 40 people that help manage all that the governing board and officers do, but the larger component is the KBA’s offering of the continuing education program. Meyer said this accreditation program is provided at no charge to lawyers, and Kentucky is one of the only states to do so.
“In two days, participants can get all of their continuing ed,” Meyer said. “They [KBA staff] do a phenomenal job to have people speak who are current on all issues, including the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals review.”
Meyer will serve as Vice President of KBA this year and plans to run for President-Elect next year. If all goes as planned, in July of 2021, Meyer will serve as President of the KBA.
“All of this is on a volunteer basis,” Meyer said. “In the six years I’ve been on the board, I have met some really good people across the state that have a passion for law and making sure values of the law are held to a high standard.”
Meyer said serving the state is an opportunity for him to give back to the profession.
Another project KBA has begun implementing is a leadership program that is modeled after Leadership Kentucky, an educational organization that has representatives from across the state.
“The KBA staff really does a wonderful job in bringing in new ideas,” Meyer said. “They analyze, plan and implement really well.”
Meyer said he is not the first from Owensboro to serve on the Kentucky Board of Governors, something he said is a blessing.
“Several have taken the officer track, including Mike Sullivan, John Stevenson, Ron Sullivan, David Yewell and Scott Plain, Sr.,” Meyer said.
Practicing with his father for most of his career, Meyer said their relationship is unique.
“I couldn’t ask for a better mentor, best friend and role model,” Meyer said.
Meyer said having his professional and personal lives rolled into one has been great and that his five children keep him busy with their athletic schedules and teenager schedules in general.
However, he said it is a great honor to be able to serve the bar association.
“It really is a joy to go and meet people throughout the state,” Meyer said.
