Ricketts Law Offices, PLLC

Education

• J.D. University of Louisville Law School (1968)
  • Law Journal Member
  • Omicron Delta Kappa (National Honorary Leadership Fraternity)
  • Phi Kappa Phi (Honorary National Scholastic Fraternity)
  • Delta Theta Phi Scholarship Key Award
• Graduate Studies at George Washington University School of Law (1970)
• B.A. Bellarmine University, Psychology (1965)

Court Admissions

• Kentucky Supreme Court
• Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals
• District of Columbia District Court & Circuit Court of Appeals
• United States Supreme Court

Affiliations

• Federal Bar Association (Member)
  • National Association Trial Attorneys
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys
• Kentucky Bar Association (Former Governor)
  • Kentucky Bar Foundation (Life Fellow)
  • President's Service Award (2004 & 2009) - For 30 years of exemplary service and dedication to the legal profession in the state of Kentucky
  • Member Services Committee (Former Chairman)
  • House of Delegates (Former Chairman)
  • Select Committee on Lawyer Discipline (1984-1994, Appointed by KY Supreme Court Chief Justice Stevens), Trial Commissioner for Discipline Matters
  • Bar Leadership Institute (Faculty, 1990-1992)
  • Donated Legal Services Committee (Since 2004)
  • Rule of Law Symposium at Kentucky State University (Cochair)
  • Criminal Law Section (Former Chair)
  • ProBono Status Recognition (since inception)
  • Kentucky Academy of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Academy of Justice (Former President), Academy of Trial Attorneys (Annual Mock Trial participant)
  • Kentucky Lawyer Referral Service Committee (Chair)
  • Interest on Lawyers Trust Account Board of Trustees (Appointed by KY Supreme Court Chief Justice Stevens)
  • Annual Memorial Service (Former Chair)
  • Bar Center Building & Expansion Committee (Former Vice Chairman)
• Louisville Bar Association (1984 President)
  • LBA Board of Directors (Member, 16 years of service)
  • Louisville Bar Foundation (Charter Member, Life Fellow)
  • LBA Community Relations Committee (Member since 1978)
  • Bar Briefs Sub Committee Member, and Editorial Committee (Member)
  • LBA Criminal Law Section (Former Chair)
  • LBA's First Judicial Evaluation Committee (Charter Member)
  • Jefferson County Women Lawyer's Association (Member since inception)
• Former Special Agent for the FBI
  • Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI (1990 National Vice-President)
  • Louisville Society Chapter (Former Chairman)
  • National Chairman of the Legal Committee
• WHAS “Ask the Lawyers” radio program Lead Guest (1984-2009)
• AV rated by Martindale Hubbell (1988) Alumnus, Focus Louisville 1987, Leadership Louisville 1988, and Bingham Fellows 2000.
• Named to "Who's Who" in American Law
• Louisville Jaycees “Outstanding Young Man” for Louisville (1976)
• Federalist Society (Member)
• Lyndon Fire Protection District Board of Trustees (Former Chairman)
• Kentucky School For the Blind Charitable Foundation Board (Former Chair)
• St. Matthews Lions Club (35 year member)
• St. Matthews Area Business Association (President 1992-1993)
• Bellarmine University Board of Trustees (Former Member), Alumni Association (President 1983, 1998 Outstanding Alumnus Award)
• Trinity High School Foundation Board
• Eagle Scout Board of Review, Former Boy Scout Leader, Troop 306, St. Margaret Mary Church (10 years)

Biography
Charlie Ricketts is a Trinity High School graduate whose undergraduate degree was won at Bellarmine University and whose undergraduate law work was accomplished (J.D.) at the U of L Brandeis School of Law. Post Graduate studies were performed at George Washington University while Charlie was assigned to Washington, D.D. as a Special Agent for the FBI.

While a FBI Agent, Ricketts was assigned to Minneapolis, Minnesota, Sioux Falls, South Dakota and the Nation's Seat of Government, Washington, D.C. His work in the Bureau included counter-intelligence, anti-terrorism and criminal prosecution including “white collar” investigation. Ricketts' transition from these varied assignments was facilitated by skills he acquired as a radio and TV. News reporter at Louisville stations WAVE AM and TV before becoming an agent.

Upon his return to Louisville and while reestablishing himself as a lawyer and trial advocate, Charlie was appointed 1st Assistant commonwealth Attorney, prosecuting the City's high profile cases. At that same time in his career and for in excess of 20 years, Ricketts served on the Adjunct faculty of the University Of Louisville School Of Justice Administration and its non-accredited component Southern Police Institute. Also during those years, Charlie was appointed attorney for the City of Jeffersontown, assisting during that municipality's industrial growth phase. A significant part of then a fast developing practice consisted of zoning, municipal planning and ordinance drafting.

All of these experiences have formed the professional advocate and advisor Ricketts has become and from which he daily draws as he practices in all of the Courts of Kentucky, from “District” to “Supreme” levels. At the Federal Courts he practices successfully at both the trial and appellate levels. Coal Mine law cases, along with Mine Safety and Health Administration matters, at both the Federal Court and Administrative Law level, are frequently handled referrals typically for management and ownership clients.

As a litigator and as a general practitioner Ricketts well understands that to practice such a wide spectrum of the law, constant continuing legal and other education must be pursued, from even before Kentucky's Supreme Court adopted a mandatory CLE requirement Charlie annually accumulated CLE credits well in excess of any required level of such continued education and has, from the adoption of the CLE Rule, each year, won the KBA's CLE Award. He lectures at these programs on a frequent basis as well.

To be an effective representative for his clients, an attorney must know and be respected by his colleagues and the Judges before whom he appears. Ricketts knows this and has been an active Bar leader for the entirety of his career.