Hon. Peter Macdonald

Peter C. Macdonald served as a District Judge in the Commonwealth of Kentucky from 1978 until his retirement on January 6, 2003. Prior to his becoming a District Judge, he served as an Assistant Attorney General for the Commonwealth and engaged in the private practice of law. He previously served as President of the District Judges' Association of Kentucky, Inc. Judge Macdonald is an active member of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, having served on the Council's Board of Trustees for six years, and he serves as faculty for the National Judicial Institute on Domestic Violence. Judge Macdonald's experience in domestic violence cases has led to his teaching throughout the United States and in seven other countries, with a specialization in the full faith and credit provisions of the Violence Against Women Act and firearms legislation related to domestic violence. Judge Macdonald appeared on 60 Minutes because of his experience with domestic violence and the military. In March 2003, he completed a three-year term as a member of the Defense Task Force on Domestic Violence, having been appointed by former Secretary of Defense William Cohen.

He is currently serving as a member of the Board of Directors of the YWCA of Nashville and Middle Tennessee. Judge Macdonald is the Co-chair of MEND, a multiyear initiative sponsored by the YWCA to engage men in the prevention of domestic violence and discrimination against women and girls. Nashville Mayor Karl Dean appointed Judge Macdonald to serve as a member of the Domestic Violence Death Review Team for Nashville and Davidson County. On October 7, 2014, Judge Macdonald received the Elizabeth Hines Domestic Violence Award, a national recognition, from the American Judges Association, honoring a judge who has made significant contributions in working to end violence against women and children. Judge Macdonald is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and the University of Louisville's Brandeis School of Law.