Judge Roger Crittenden

Judge Roger Crittenden, former Franklin County District and Circuit Judge, died September 7, 2026. He was born July 15, 1945, and was 81 years old. Judge Crittenden was preceded in death by his parents Emitt and Marie Crittenden and an infant sister, Mary Jeanette. Judge Crittenden is survived by his wife of 58 years, Patty Shannon; son, Ben (Amy); daughter, Laura Tipton (David); grandchildren, Beatrice Crittenden, Elliott Crittenden, Levi Tipton, Wesley Tipton, step-granddaughter Layton Tipton; sister-in-law Becky (Scott) Tippett, nephew Andrew Tippett, and many friends. Judge Crittenden graduated from Franklin County High School, Georgetown College, and the University of Kentucky College of Law. He also attended graduate school at the Fels Institute of Government (Wharton Graduate Division} at the University of Pennsylvania. Judge Crittenden was a member of the U.S. Army from 1969 until 1972. He served at Fort Knox, Ky., Baltimore, Md., Monterey Ca., and was a veteran of the Vietnam War where he was a sergeant assigned to the 525 Military Intelligence Command. After law school Judge Crittenden worked for the Kentucky Secretary for Human Resources and the Director of the Kentucky Council on Higher Education prior to his election to the Franklin County District Court in 1980. He served as a District Judge until his election as Franklin County Circuit Judge in 1991. He served as a Circuit Judge for Franklin County until he retired in 2006 and became a Senior Judge. As a Senior Judge he served in Franklin County, Jefferson County, Fayette County, Laurel County, and Woodford, Scott and Bourbon Counties among others. Judge Crittenden was twice appointed as a Special Justice for the Kentucky Supreme Court. Judge Crittenden served as an Adjunct Professor of Legal Writing at the University of Kentucky College of Law from 1981 until 2007 where he was able to identify his future law clerks and summer interns. After serving as a senior judge, Judge Crittenden mediated civil and criminal cases in central Kentucky. In addition, he served as chair of the Kentucky Child Fatality and Near Fatality Review Commission from 2012 until 2019; Chair of the Kentucky Executive Branch Ethics Commission from 2020 until 2024; and as a Hearing Officer for the Kentucky High School Athletic Commission from 2021 until 2024. Judge Crittenden was elected to the University of Kentucky College of Law Hall of Fame in 2007 and received the Livingston Taylor Ethics Award from the Executive Branch Ethics Commission in 2025. Judge Crittenden was devoted to his family, dedicated to his church, and thoroughly enjoyed working with his clerks and colleagues in the District, Circuit and Family Courts. He taught various Sunday School Classes and served as Moderator for over 30 years at Immanuel Baptist Church in Frankfort. Judge Crittenden was an avid reader, especially mysteries, and a tennis fan and mediocre player. A Celebration of Life will be held at Immanuel Baptist Church on Monday, September 14, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Dr. Emily Holladay officiating. Visitation will be at Immanuel Baptist Church from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 13, 2026. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Immanuel Baptist Church Infant Resource Center, Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky, your local food pantry, or any charity near to your heart. Arrangements are under the direction of Harrod Brothers Funeral Home & Crematory.

Judge Roger Crittenden

July 15, 1945 - September 7, 2026