Judge • Division 6
A lifelong Louisvillian, Teddy B. Gordon grew up in Highland Park. He graduated from Atherton High School in 1964, the University of Kentucky in 1967, and the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law in 1972.
Teddy B. Gordon has practiced law for 54 years, with a career dedicated largely to civil rights, education law, and protecting the rights of children with special needs. His legal career also includes oral argument before the Supreme Court of the United States in Meredith v. Jefferson County Board of Education, No. 05-915.
Gordon and his wife celebrated 60 years of marriage this August. Planting deep roots in Louisville, the Gordons raised two children and now have three grandchildren, all of whom graduated from or currently attend Jefferson County Public Schools.
Gordon’s legal career has been rooted in Louisville, where he has spent decades fighting for individuals and families—often taking on cases for people who needed someone willing to stand up for them. His work has included civil rights, education law and advocacy for children with special needs, as well as litigation that ultimately took him to the Supreme Court of the United States.
His Supreme Court advocacy in Meredith v. Jefferson County Board of Education is featured below.
Gordon emphasizes equal justice, fairness, and respect for the law across the matters handled in District Court.
Public safety and accountability are important responsibilities of the District Court. Gordon believes violent offenses should carry meaningful consequences and that the court must take seriously the safety of the community.
For people struggling with alcohol or drug addiction, Gordon supports treatment and assistance when appropriate rather than relying on incarceration alone.
His approach reflects decades of legal experience and a commitment to treating every person who appears before the court with dignity and respect.
Throughout his legal career, Teddy B. Gordon has represented individuals and families in matters involving education, civil rights, and access to justice. These are among the cases and issues highlighted in his campaign.
U.S. Supreme Court, No. 05-915 (decided June 28, 2007). Teddy B. Gordon presented oral argument for petitioner Crystal Meredith on December 4, 2006. The Court held the challenged student-assignment plan unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause.
Case summary and decision ↗Gordon represented six families challenging Jefferson County Public Schools’ admissions restrictions at Central High School. Contemporary reporting documents the families’ challenge to racial limits on admission; the precise disposition of that separate litigation has not been verified.
Contemporary reporting (1998) ↗Gordon represented Myranda Juarez on appeal in a dispute involving her right to breastfeed at a public school. The Kentucky Court of Appeals reinstated her statutory breastfeeding-related claim and remanded it for further proceedings, while affirming dismissal of other claims. The opinion notes that the school district adopted a breastfeeding policy and training after the complaint was filed.
Published appellate opinion ↗On December 4, 2006, Teddy B. Gordon presented oral argument on behalf of petitioner Crystal Meredith in No. 05-915. The Supreme Court decided the case on June 28, 2007, together with Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District No. 1, and reversed and remanded the judgment below.
Gordon later recalled the moment the case was called and he began his argument before the Supreme Court as a defining moment in his life. He also described being in his Louisville office when the Supreme Court Clerk called to tell him that the petitioner had prevailed.
Supreme Court Transcript · Case decision and summary ↗
Email: teddybgordonforjudge@gmail.com | Phone: (502) 295-5278