On November 21, 2019, the Honorable Edward B. Atkins visited the Judicial Process class at Alice Lloyd College to discuss his role in the federal judicial system. He serves as a United States Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky. Judge Atkins received his bachelor’s degree in biology from Centre College in 1984, and his law degree from the University of Kentucky in 1990. Judge Atkins then served as a law clerk for the Honorable Joseph M. Hood on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky from 1990 to 1992. Following his clerkship, he entered private practice until 2006 in Pikeville, Kentucky. On August 24, 2006, Judge Atkins was sworn in as a United States Magistrate Judge and serves the Courts in Pikeville, Ashland, Lexington and Frankfort, Kentucky.
Cathy Jones, adjunct professor of criminal justice, stated, “Judge Atkins’ willingness to share his judicial experience and support the criminal justice program demonstrates a key component of our Alice Lloyd College’s mission: possess high moral and ethic values and a sense of service to others. We continue to identify leaders in the criminal justice field throughout the Appalachia region who can speak to living a life of justice, integrity, and service and at the same time, increase awareness of our newly established criminal justice major. I am also proud of our students based upon their classroom communications with Judge Atkins.”