Former Circuit Judge Larry D. Raikes dead at 73
Judge Larry D. Raikes, 73, of Bardstown, died Friday, Aug. 31, 2012, at Hardin Memorial Hospital. He was born Aug. 1, 1939, in New Market, Ky. He graduated from LaRue County High School in 1956, UK in 1960 with a bachelor’s degree in political science, and UK Law School in 1962 with a Juris Doctorate.
He opened his first law practice in 1962 in Hodgenville, where he practiced 20 years and served as LaRue County Attorney beginning in 1969 for 2 terms. He was appointed by Gov. John Y. Brown to finish out unexpired term of Judge Charles Richardson as the 10th judicial circuit judge in 1983. He was elected circuit judge in 1983 and ran unopposed until his retirement in 2002 after which he took Senior Judge Status until 2008.
As circuit judge in Nelson, Hart, and LaRue Counties, he carried the heaviest case load in the state, exceeding over 2000 cases per year, for several years. In 2000 he was voted Outstanding Judge of the Year by the Kentucky Academy of Trial Attorneys and received the Henry Pennington Outstanding Trial Lawyer Award. After retirement in 2008 he joined the Law Firm of Fulton, Hubbard & Hubbard where he practiced law until his death. He was on the committee to build the Nelson County Justice Center, and was a member of Bloomfield United Methodist Church.
He was preceded in death by his father, Gilbert Hartford Raikes; and mother, Elizabeth Raikes.
He is survived by his wife Julie Shehan Raikes; two sons, Ryan Raikes and Rob Offutt, both of Bardstown; one sister, Beverly Ackerson and her husband Leonard, both of Hodgenville; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral is 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2012, at Barlow Funeral Home with burial in Maple Grove Cemetery in Bloomfield. Dr. Rick Loader and the Rev. Jim Hitt will officiate.
Visitation is 2-8 p.m. Monday,, Sept. 3, 2012, and 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2012, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may go to Bloomfield United Methodist Church, Maintenance Fund.
Barlow Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. For more information please visit http://www.barlowfh.com/.
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