William McAnulty Jr. was a trailblazer in Kentucky law. McAnulty served as a judge at every level of the Kentucky Courts, ultimately becoming the very first African American justice on the Kentucky Supreme Court.
William McAnulty Jr. was born in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1947. The son of a mailman, McAnulty attended Shortridge High School, previously known as Indianapolis High School. The school was the first free public high school in the state of Indiana (1864). Based on all accounts, Shortridge provided a great educational foundation for McAnulty, setting him up for plenty of future success. After graduating from high school, McAnulty enrolled at Indiana University to continue his education. Following his graduation from Indiana, he studied at and received his J.D. from the University of Louisville School of Law.
Following McAnulty’s education, he began his work as an attorney. By 1975, McAnulty began serving as a juvenile court judge. Two years later, in 1977, McAnulty was elected as a Jefferson County District Court Judge. He left the bench in 1980 to take on a new role. Kentucky Governor John Brown Jr. named him the state justice secretary. This made William McAnulty the first African American to hold a cabinet level position in the state of Kentucky. However, McAnulty’s time as state justice secretary was short lived. He claimed the position caused him to spend too much time away from his family. After only one month, he resigned and returned to his previous position on the District Court.
In 1983, McAnulty decided to pursue a position as a Jefferson County Circuit Court judge. On Election Day in 1983, McAnulty played one on one basketball against his 12-year-old neighbor. McAnulty injured himself. He wound up winning the election for Circuit Court judge, but he had to attend the victory party on crutches. His then 12-year-old neighbor also went on to become very successful, playing in the NBA for over a decade. His name was Allan Houston. McAnulty presided over many cases during his time as circuit court judge, but none bigger than the Trinity murder case. The case famously resulted in the death penalty, despite McAnulty being morally opposed to the punishment.
In 1990, McAnulty elected to return to private practice again. Three years later, in 1993, he returned to serve as chief judge for the Jefferson County Circuit Court. McAnulty excelled in this position, winning the Henry V. Pennington Outstanding Judge of the Year award in 1997. In 1998, his stellar reputation earned him an appointment to the Kentucky Court of Appeals (representing the 4th Appellate District). He authored nearly 750 different opinions while on the Court of Appeals. In 2006, McAnulty reached the pinnacle of his career as a judge. Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher appointed him to the Kentucky Supreme Court. In November of the same year, McAnulty was elected to a full 8-year term.
Unfortunately, he was unable to complete his 8-year term. He was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2007, the result of a lifelong smoking habit that he had finally kicked the year prior. Soon after, the cancer spread to his brain. McAnulty remained in good spirits throughout surgeries and rigorous treatment, but the disease took a toll on him. He fell and broke his collarbone in August the same year, forcing him to step down from his position as a Kentucky Supreme Court justice. Later that month, McAnulty passed away at his home in the Highlands.
William McAnulty’s memorial service was a testament to his distinguished career and impact. His 27 years as a judge had left an indelible mark. The service, held at Highland Presbyterian Church, was standing room only. Afterwards, McAnulty was laid to rest at Cave Hill Cemetery. However, McAnulty’s death did not mark the end of his legacy and impact on the community. McAnulty was an active member of the Legal Aid Society in Louisville. He used his position as Chair of the Metro United Way board to advocate for the establishment of an HIV/AIDS legal advocate program. This program continues to serve the Louisville community today. McAnulty’s legacy and achievements are also memorialized at the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort, Kentucky. In 2010, a bust of the judge was unveiled in the rotunda. In 2018, friends, family, and supporters gathered by the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law to dedicate a bench in honor of McAnulty. Many of his former colleagues offered their remembrances.
