In 2024, Circuit Judge Karol J. Kemp was elected to the newly created Place 6 of the Baldwin County Circuit Court. She took the bench in January 2025. This newly created judicial seat is a general jurisdiction position; however, the Presiding Circuit Judge has assigned Judge Kemp to hear domestic relations cases filed in Baldwin County. Additionally, Judge Kemp supervises the Baldwin County Child Support Referee.
Judge Kemp graduated from Western Kentucky University with a B.S. in Business Management and later obtained her law degree from the University of Alabama School of Law. Upon graduation, she served as an Assistant District Attorney with the Baldwin County District Attorney’s Office for five years. After leaving the D.A.’s Office, she worked for six years with the law firm of Wilkins, Bankester, Biles & Wynne before opening her own practice in Spanish Fort. After seventeen years of managing her own practice, she returned to Wilkins Bankester for the three years prior to taking the bench.
Judge Kemp also served as Spanish Fort’s Municipal Prosecutor for 23 years, and is a past president of the Baldwin County Bar Association. She has served on numerous Boards and committees, including the Board of Directors for Baldwin Court Services and serving as a past-Chair to the Baldwin County Grievance Committee. She was appointed to the position of Baldwin County Court Referee in 2022, and served as such until December of 2024.
She and her husband, George, reside in the Fish River community. They have three children and one grandchild.