Edmund "Pete" Karem-

Mr. Karem has been practicing law for over 38 years. He received his Juris Doctorate from the Univesity Of Louisville in 1968, then entered into private practice in the firm of Karem & Karem Attorneys. For 10 of the 15 years he practiced at the firm, he was managing partner. During that time, he had a private practice with an emphasis on civil litigation.

During this period, Mr. Karem had several prestigious appointments. In 1974, he was appointed to the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights by the Governor and appointed Chairman of the Commission in 1976. Mr. Karem continued to serve as Chair of the Commission until 1983, when he resigned to run for Circuit Court Judge.

Other honors and appointments include holding office in the Louisville Bar Association from 1977 through 1980, serving as President Elect in 1979 and President in 1980. Mr. Karem was a member of the Board of Directors of the LBA in 1981-1982, 1988-1989 and 1993-1994. He served as Vice President of Kentucky Youth Advocates in 1977 and was a member of the Board of Directors from 1979-1981. He served as Third District Vice President for the Kentucky Association of Trial Attorneys in 1981 and 1982 and was a member of the Board of Overseers at Spalding University from 1983-1985.

In 1983, Mr. Karem was elected to the Jefferson Circuit Court; he took office in January 1984 as Judge of the Second Division. In 1986 and 1987, he served as Chief Judge of the Jefferson Circuit Court, and in 1988 and 1989, as Associate Chief Judge. Judge Karem was President of the Kentucky Association of Circuit Jedges in 1991 and 1992.

In 1993, Judge Karem left the bench and returned to private practice as a partner in the firm of Sitlinger, McGlincy, Theiler & Karem. He continued in that capacity, except for a leave of absence in 1995, when he was appointed by the Governor to serve an unexpired term on the Court of Appeals. In 2005, he took "of counsel status."

While a partner in the firm of Sitlinger, McGlincy, Theiler & Karem, he concentrated his practice in civil litigation, and more recently in mediation and arbitration. In October 2006, Judge Karem left the firm to focus more time and energy on his mediation and arbitration practice.