Karen Faulkner, Attorney
With a reputation as a dynamic personality, Karen Faulkner has spent her career fighting for her clients. As an attorney with the office of the Louisville Metro Public Defender, Karen represented clients charged with nearly every crime in the penal code. She has particular knowledge and expertise in the area of juvenile criminal defense, and in that capacity she has served as lead counsel on more than a dozen trials.
A graduate of the University of Louisville, Karen hails from Lexington, Kentucky, but has called Louisville home. As a student at the Brandeis School of Law, Karen served on the Student Bar Association, led the International Law Society and was a member of Delta Theta Phi She completed an externship at the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office and spent time in public service as a family court advocate for the Center for Women & Families.
After law school, Karen went back to public service as a public defender, where she would spend six years in the juvenile and adult divisions of the office. That experience includes more than a dozen jury and bench trials in Jefferson County Circuit and District Courts.
Karen ran for the office of Jefferson County Attorney. Even though she had never before run for a political office, she came extremely close to beating a longtime incumbent who has held public office for decades. She will be running for a seat on the Jefferson County District Court bench.
In the meantime, Karen continues her work representing those charged with all levels of criminal offenses, as well as providing outstanding services in family courts. Karen is known as a strong and compelling lawyer who does whatever it takes to ensure her client’s rights are protected and that they are heard.
Julie Kaelin, Attorney
Louisville native Julie Kaelin has been practicing law in Jefferson and its surrounding counties. A graduate of the University of Louisville Arts and Sciences and Law Schools, Julie is a proud card fan (her dad even played football for them), and she considers herself a Louisvillian through and through.
She has served as lead counsel on more than a dozen Circuit Court jury trials, as well as many District Court jury trials. She has also represented those facing the death penalty. Julie has taught as an adjunct professor of Trial Practice at the University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law, and was a speaker. Kentucky Bar Association Annual Conventions, both times on issues related to criminal law.
Julie has become especially experienced in the areas of sex crimes, violent felonies, expungements, and federal criminal defense. Along with her private practice of criminal defense and domestic violence cases, she serves as a Criminal Justice Act Panel attorney for the United States District Court, Western District of Kentucky, as well as continuing to represent indigent defendants as needed for the Department of Public Advocacy. Her win-loss record in EPO/IPO cases currently stands at 18 – 2.
She is known as a fierce and tough lawyer, but one who maintains a congenial relationship with her peers while ensuring that what matters most – her client’s interests – are never sacrificed. She is a respected advocate in Kentucky, and her reputation as someone who does not back down is well-earned.