Thomas Austin Ballantine Jr.

Thomas Austin Ballantine Jr. served as a judge for the Western District of Kentucky from 1977 to 1992. Ballantine was born on September 22, 1926 in Louisville, Kentucky. He received a bachelor's degree from the University of Kentucky in 1948 and a law degree from the University of Louisville in 1954. Following law school, Ballantine worked in a private practice from 1954 to 1964. During this time, Ballantine also served as deputy commissioner for Jefferson County Kentucky Circuit Court (1958-1962) and commissioner of Jefferson County Kentucky Fiscal Court (1962-1964). In 1964, Ballantine was elected as a judge for the Jefferson County Circuit Court and served in that capacity until President Jimmy Carter nominated him in 1977 to become a federal judge on the Western District Court, to a seat vacated by Judge C. Rhodes Bratcher. The Senate confirmed his nomination on October 17, 1977. Ballantine assumed senior status on November 29, 1991 and served in that capacity until his death three months later on February 18, 1992.