Kimberly Henderson Baird
Kimberly began her career as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney to Ray Larson in 1996, and as Lou Anna Red Corn’s First Assistant in 2016. When Lou Anna announced her retirement, Kimberly was appointed by Governor Beshear to fill the remainder of Lou Anna’s term beginning October 1, 2022. Kimberly became the first African American female in Kentucky to serve in the role of Fayette Commonwealth’s Attorney. She was born and raised in Lexington; graduating from the University of Kentucky in 1993 and the University of Kentucky College of Law in 1996. She has tried over 120 cases before juries – including approximately 27 homicides cases. For decades, she has trained new prosecutors across the state at the Kentucky Prosecutor’s Conference, as well as instructing officers with the Lexington Police Department and the Department of Criminal Justice Training (DOCJT) in Richmond.
She is a strong advocate for crime victims, especially the most vulnerable in our community – children. She is a member of the office’s Special Victim’s Unit which focuses on prosecuting crimes committed against children. She also facilitated the multi-disciplinary team meetings held at the Children’s Advocacy Center which investigates and prosecutes child sexual abuse cases in Fayette County.
She understands the issues facing our community and is committed to finding solutions. In 2020, she was asked to serve on the Mayor’s Commission for Racial Justice and Equality – Law Enforcement, Justice and Accountability. That committee discussed concerns community members had with law enforcement and the justice system and ways to address those concerns. In 2023, she was a member of the Kentucky Bar Association Convention planning committee. She co-chairs the Legal Committee of the Fayette County Juvenile Treatment Court Steering Committee working to create best practices for juveniles charged with crimes. She currently serves on the State Commission on Race & Access to Opportunity, which conducts studies and research issues where disparities may exist across various social, economic and educational sectors in order to identify areas of improvement in providing services and opportunities for marginalized communities. On a national level, she is an associate member of the National District Attorney’s Association, serving on the Integrity and Access and Legislative Committees. She was inducted as a Fellow into the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers and has been asked to serve on its Kentucky State Committee.
She is also very active in her community. She has served as the chair of Lexington’s Annual Roots and Heritage Festival for the past 20 years. She is the Board President for the Community Action Council. She is also a member of Jack and Jill of America Inc. the Junior League of Lexington, an honorary member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc., and the Ky Association of Professional African American Women (KAPAAW). She currently serves as the Usher Board president at Historic Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church, where she has been a member for over 40 years.
