Eastern District of Kentucky / Appointed 1988 / Served to 2014
Karl Spillman Forester
Judge, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
Appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 and confirmed by voice vote, Karl Spillman Forester was a Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky. He earned a law degree from University of Kentucky College of Law in 1966. Sources: FJC Biographical Directory · Senate confirmation, July 26, 1988
- Appointed by
- Ronald Reagan, 1988
- Confirmed
- by voice vote
- Education
- University of Kentucky 1962 · University of Kentucky College of Law 1966
- Succeeded by
- Gregory Frederick Van Tatenhove
Federal judicial service
| Year | Court | Appointed by | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Eastern District of Kentucky | Reagan (R) | voice |
A per-senator roll-call isn’t shown for this confirmation. The Senate’s recorded roll-call votes begin in 1989; many confirmations (especially before then, and most to the lower courts) were by voice vote or unanimous consent.
Education
| University of Kentucky | B.A. | 1962 |
| University of Kentucky College of Law | J.D. | 1966 |
Sources
25 years on the Eastern District of Kentucky. Data last verified 2026-06-28. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).