Mission Statement

R. David Stengel

Dear Friends:

It is an honor to serve Metro Louisville (Jefferson County) as Commonwealth's Attorney, the Chief elected law enforcement agent in the county.  I am proud to represent the Commonwealth, and therefore, each of you, in criminal actions against those who choose not to follow society's laws. Effectively fighting crime is my overriding concern. As chief felony prosecutor, I believe the full weight of our efforts should go toward eradicating crime and doing justice. The Commonwealth's Attorney's Office is eager to work with each of you in any effort effecting that end.

Those who violate our laws will be prosecuted fully - you should expect no less. The rights of victims and witnesses are essential to the proper balance of the scales of justice. To achieve victory in this battle, each of us must do our part. It is imperative that both victims and witnesses take an active part in prosecution.   Police and prosecutors can only do so much - we need your help. Together, we can make Metro Louisville and Jefferson County a safe and secure place to live and raise a family.

R. David Stengel

The Commonwealth's Attorney's Office occupies a critical position in the criminal justice system.  Commonly referred to as the District Attorney in most states, the Commonwealth's Attorney must focus the power of the state on those who defy its laws.   As legal representative for the people, the Commonwealth's Attorney has the duty to seek justice for all.

As a leader of the criminal justice system in Jefferson County, the Commonwealth's Attorney is responsible for felony prosecution in thirteen of the Circuit Courts in the 30th Judicial District. In 2007, the staff of 102, including 48 prosecutors, handled 4,249 new felony indictments and closed over 7015 cases, making the Jefferson County Commonwealth's Attorney's Office the busiest felony prosecutorial office in Kentucky. Within the Office there are nine different prosecutorial divisions.

The Commonwealth's Attorney is also advisor to the Grand Jury and provides legal advice to the police concerning sufficiency of evidence, warrants and all matters regarding the investigations of crime.  The Commonwealth's Attorney is a lawyer, an administrator, and a public servant with policy-making responsibilities.

On November 28, 2007, Commonwealth’s Attorney R. David Stengel received the Carroll M. Redford Award, given to the Kentucky Outstanding Prosecutor by the Commonwealth’s Attorney Association. This announcement and presentation was made by Association President Ric Bartley at the Banquet that occurred at the end of the first day of the Association’s “Winter” Conference. The award, named after long time Commonwealth’s Attorney Carroll M. Redford of Glasgow, recognizes a Commonwealth’s Attorney for "best exemplifying the attributes of the ideal prosecutor in fulfilling the duties of his office and in recognition of his diligence and leadership as a public servant and private citizen." This award is extremely prestigious in that it is not awarded on an annual basis, only when prosecutorial achievement demands. This is the first time in several years that it was bestowed.

Among the speakers present at the award ceremony were Attorney General Greg Stumbo, Attorney General-elect Jack Conway and Supreme Court Justice Bill Cunningham, in addition to many of the state’s other Commonwealth’s Attorneys and a large number of Assistants from Mr. Stengel’s office.

Mr. Stengel twice previously received the award as Outstanding Commonwealth’s Attorney — from Attorney General Stumbo in 2006 and from Attorney General Ben Chandler in 1998. Those awards were “in recognition of outstanding service to the citizens of the Commonwealth and the Unified Prosecutorial System.”

The Redford award is a significant statewide achievement for which Mr. Stengel was touched and delighted.

Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office Law Clerk David Scott and his partner, coached by Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Michelle Grant Rudovich, won the American Bar Association National Negotiation Competition that took place in Los Angeles, California from February 8—10, 2008. The other three top law school finishers were Tulsa, John Marshall and UC-Berkeley. In addition to winning a trophy and a cash prize, David and his team have been invited to participate in the International Negotiation Competition scheduled for London, England in early July, 2008.

David is a third year law student at the University of Louisville who plans to graduate in May, 2008 and to take the Kentucky Bar Exam this summer. He has served as a Law Clerk assigned to the General Trial Divisions since May, 2007. Michelle is a University of Louisville Law School graduate who is in her third year as an Assistant assigned to the Unified Special Prosecutions Unit. This office is very proud of both of them!

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Jason Butler Helps Guide Bellarmine University Mock Trial Team To Success in National Championships

For more than four years, Jason Butler has vigorously and effectively prosecuted serious felony cases as a member of the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office General Trial Unit, Division B. In his “leisure” time, Jason serves as one of the mock trial coaches for his undergrad alma mater, Bellarmine University (BU), which just finished sixth in the American Mock Trial Association championships.

Over 300 teams from colleges and universities across the country participate in American Mock Trial Association-sponsored competitions. According to Jason, Bellarmine Mock Trial is one of the oldest and most successful programs in the country. In the 22 years that BU has competed, BU has placed first or second in the nation five times and has finished in the top-10 on several other occasions. Bellarmine has qualified at least one team for the National Championship Tournament in 21 of the past 22 years. In addition, BU has almost 40 All Americans, including several who have received multiple All American designations. In 1999, Bellarmine won the National Championship by defeating Rhodes College. That BU team featured two current Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorneys, Jason Butler and Ryane Conroy. At the National Championship Tournament that year, the team beat Stanford University, Furman University and the University of Texas.

From information provided on the Bellarmine Mock Trial website, the team is led by coaches Ruth and Jim Wagoner, who have been with the program since its inception. Dr. Ruth Wagoner is a professor of communications at Bellarmine, while Jim Wagoner is an attorney in private practice in Louisville. The team is also coached by alumni Jason Butler and Matt Rich. Butler is a graduate of Drake Law School in Des Moines, Iowa. Rich is a graduate of Cornell Law School in Ithaca, New York, and he currently works as a private practice attorney in Cincinnati. Ruth Wagoner has decided to make this past season her last season as an active coach, and her husband Jim will direct the program going forward. Jim will continue to be assisted by Jason Butler and Matt Rich, with additional expertise coming from mock trial alumna Ryane Conroy.

In the regional competition this year, Bellarmine bested teams from Michigan, Cornell and Harvard while earning a trip to the National Championship Tournament, held in Minneapolis, Minnesota from April 4-6, 2008. In the Nationals, BU finished sixth, taking ballots from Stanford, Michigan and Northwestern, and just coming up just short in the fourth round. With a record of 5 wins 2 losses and 1 tie, Bellarmine finished in sixth place in the O'Reilly Division, won by the University of Maryland, which went on to defeat George Washington in the Final Round for Maryland's record-setting fifth national championship. BU junior captain Staci Windsor was named an All American Attorney for her performance this weekend, one of only 20 attorneys in the entire competition so named. (To put this honor in perspective, there are over 200 attorneys eligible for this honor.)

Jason indicates that there is much optimism about the team’s chances in 2009. There are no seniors on this year's mock trial team. All twelve team members will return to compete next season. In addition, three of the 12 participants in this year's Kentucky High School State Mock Trial Championship final round plan to participate in mock trial at Bellarmine. It is a great time to be a part of this program, and the coaches are excited about the future.

We are proud of the work that Jason does in keeping our community safe from serious and persistent felony offenders, and for his efforts in helping develop future lawyers and leaders.

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Felicia Nu’Man Featured in Newsweek Magazine

The April 14, 2008 edition of Newsweek Magazine’s “My Turn” column is authored by Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Felicia Nu’Man. The full page story on page 19 of the hard copy features a great photo of Ms. Nu’man standing in the Jefferson County Judicial Center at the end of the pedway leading to the Hall of Justice. Ms. Nu’Man, a graduate of Emory University School of Law in Atlanta, Georgia and a University of Louisville undergrad, has been a prosecutor assigned to the Narcotics Unit for almost three years. Her column is titled “I am not the Enemy,” and can be found online at http://www.newsweek.com/id/130604 .

HUMAN RESOURCES ADMINISTRATOR
JACKIE WARNER
ELECTED TO PRESTIGIOUS POST

While Jackie was Chair of the Community Challenge Committee in 2006, she lead the chapter to donate over 1,000 stuffed bears and other various animals to the “Bears on Patrol” project where police officers carry stuffed animals in the patrol cars for the times when young children are taken from the home for one reason or another, and need a little comfort. According to one of her colleagues in Kentucky ALA, “Jackie has always served our Chapter with grace and patience and follows through on every task she accepts. We are lucky to have her.” The Commonwealth’s Attorney echoed those sentiments when he congratulated Jackie on her election and praised her years of effective and faithful service.