PIKEVILLE – A federal judge filed a general order last week moving all court hearings set for the federal courthouse in Pikeville to be moved either to Ashland or London after the end of this year.
Chief United States District Judge David L. Bunning filed an order confirming the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit had already made a certification of consent for all further business of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky at Pikeville to be pretermitted, or abandoned, effective December 31, 2025.
The order stipulates that all pending cases at Pikeville will be transferred to and docketed on the regular docket of the Ashland and London federal courts, as well as all matters filed on or after January 1, 2026, will be scheduled as follows: cases arising in Johnson, Magoffin or Martin Counties will be moved to the Ashland Division; and federal cases from Pike, Letcher, Floyd or Knott Counties will be moved to the London Division.
No reason was given for the move, but the SI will continue coverage on this change in federal court as information is made available.
