PHOTO CAPTION
Jefferson Family Court Chief Judge Derwin L. Webb (right) poses with Justice Angela McCormick Bisig (middle) and Chief Justice Debra Hembree Lambert after receiving the William E. McAnulty Jr. Award on Feb. 11 at the University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law. Judge Webb, who was a mentee of Justice McAnulty, was honored for his mentorship of Jefferson County Public Schools students. (Photo by Jim Hoffmann, Administrative Office of the Courts)

NEWS RELEASE
LOUISVILLE, Ky., Feb. 12, 2026 – Jefferson Family Court Chief Judge Derwin L. Webb was honored Wednesday for his mentorship with an award named for his own mentor, the late Justice William E. McAnulty Jr. Supreme Court Justice Angela McCormick Bisig of Jefferson County presented the award during a reception at the University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law.

“He would be so proud to have you here getting this award,” Justice Bisig said of Justice McAnulty.

The Judicial Branch presents the McAnulty Award each year during Black History Month. Judge Webb was selected for volunteering his time to mentor more than 80 Jefferson County Public Schools students, many from minority backgrounds. He began partnering with the school system in the 2024-2025 school year to address chronic absenteeism and prevent unnecessary court involvement. He inspired four other Family Court judges to join the effort and now volunteers in three JCPS schools.

“I consider him one of our truly good ambassadors,” Justice Bisig said.

Judge Webb said he couldn’t have imagined receiving the award bearing his mentor’s name.

“This honor feels less like a recognition and more like a full circle moment,” he said. “It feels like a conversation continuing across time. It feels like a mentor quietly saying, ‘I told you so.’ ”

Judge Webb received his undergraduate degree from U of L, where he played basketball, and his juris doctor from Brandeis. He said Justice McAnulty was one of the reasons he chose to attend law school. When Justice McAnulty was serving as a judge, he allowed Judge Webb – then a student – to sit in the Jefferson County courtroom where he presided and later join him in chambers for conversations. Their families were from the same neighborhoods and shared similar experiences, Judge Webb said.

“We talked about U of L basketball, about life, about purpose, and about what it truly means to be a good lawyer – and a good person,” Judge Webb said. “He showed me that the practice of law is not just about knowledge or skill, but about judgment, humility and character. Those moments stayed with me. When I doubted whether I belonged, when I questioned whether the path was worth it, he was there. When setbacks made the future feel uncertain, he was there.”

Justice McAnulty understood that representation in the judiciary is not about symbolism but possibility, Judge Webb said.

“When people see themselves reflected in the courts, they don’t just see authority,” he said. “They see access. They see fairness. They see hope. Because of him, I saw possibility. I accept this award knowing that I am the beneficiary of someone else’s investment. That understanding comes with responsibility. Responsibility to mentor others, responsibility to listen, responsibility to ensure our courts are not only places where rules are applied but places where dignity is felt.”

Judge Webb, who also thanked his other mentors, said, “Justice McAnulty taught me that the law is ultimately about people, about listening, about fairness, about humility, and about lifting as you climb.”

Justice McAnulty was the first Black justice on the Supreme Court of Kentucky and served at every level of the court system. He passed away in 2007 after a 30-year career in public service. Before joining the state’s highest court, he served as a Jefferson district and circuit judge and was the first Black judge on the Court of Appeals. The Judicial Branch has presented the award named for him each year since 2020. The award recognizes individuals whose dedication and commitment to service have made a significant impact on the Kentucky Court of Justice. Impact may be demonstrated through years of service, leadership, job performance or efforts to improve racial and ethnic diversity and equity in the Judicial Branch.

The Supreme Court presented the award at Brandeis while at the law school to hear oral arguments. The court’s Capitol home is undergoing a multiyear renovation. More information is available at https://kcoj.info/COANRFeb2026.

Administrative Office of the Courts
The Administrative Office of the Courts is based in Frankfort and is the operations arm of the state court system. The AOC supports the activities of nearly 3,300 court system employees and 412 elected justices, judges and circuit court clerks. As the fiscal agent for the state court system, the AOC executes the Judicial Branch budget.

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