Morgan says county attorney's primary role should be helping people
By Jim Turner


Posted on January 1, 0001 12:00 AM



Candidate Corey Morgan doesn't consider the primary role of the Logan County Attorney to be putting people in jail.

"Repeat offenders need punishment," he says, "but as county attorney I want to get first-time offenders the help they need in straightening their lives out. I want to be a gatekeeper by helping people find alternatives to ending up in jail. I would like to get them counseling and maybe help them get into the military so that they can learn discipline and help our country at the same time.

"I don't want to make criminals out of people. If they need a helping hand, I don't want to step on them."

Corey Morgan is a strong believer in patriotism and military service. He volunteered for the military and served in the Gulf wars known as Desert Shield and Desert Storm. A military policeman, he picked up prisoners in Iraq and brought them to Saudi Arabia. His belief in service to country comes in part from his dad John, who is a veteran of Viet Nam. Corey became a paratrooper and earned his "jump wings."

Morgan is a native of Russellville, the son of late Jean Duncan Morgan and her husband John, who owned and operated Town Motel and oversaw his rental property. He is the grandson of the late Speck and Sally Ruth Browning Duncan. His brothers are Jay Morgan, Randy Smith and the late Mike Smith.

After graduation from Russellville High School in 1988 and his military service, Morgan attended Western Kentucky University where he earned a degree in accounting. He worked as an accountant for an industry, but two business law courses he had taken at WKU whetted his interest in law.

He was accepted into the University of Louisville's Brandeis School of Law, graduating in 1999. He worked for Russellville attorney Stewart Wheeler as an office associate.
In 2001 he was named Assistant Barren County Attorney, working with County Attorney Jeff Sharp. He continued in that role full-time for two years and part-time for another year. "He is a Christian and a nice guy," Morgan says of Sharp. "Through him I learned how the county attorney can help people and still operate the office properly."
In March 2003, Morgan opened his own private practice in Glasgow. He stayed in that role for four years before coming back to Russellvillle. "Glasgow is a wonderful city and my practice was going well there, but there's no place like home. I wanted our children to grow up here," he explains.
He brought home to Logan County his wife Rebekah and children Natalie, Henry and Jack, who are now ages 3, 5 and 7. Rebekah has become very involved in activities in her new hometown. The children attend Chandlers School.
Corey talked with an old friend at RHS, attorney Ken Williams, about going into legal practice together. Their offices are on Blakey Street, directly across from the new Logan County Justice Center. The building is remodeled from his dad's rental property near the Walgreen Drug Store. Attorney Neil Kerr also has his practice in their office.
Morgan wants to make the county attorney's office more accessible to the public by being open on Saturdays. He also promises 24-hour availability for victims of abuse and to work with law enforcement officials.
A strong believer in protecting children and those who are being abused, he has detailed his plans for helping these victims on his campaign website at www.morganforcountyattorney.com. Click on Notes. "I handled all the abuse and neglect cases in Barren County, and to me those are the most important cases," he says. "Children have to be protected so that they can be safe and grow up in an environment where they can thrive."
Morgan also plans to utilize a probation data base to keep track of repeat offenders. Records would be kept of guilty pleas, convictions and probation records so that those who continue to abuse the system will receive appropriate punishment. He also pledges to work at cold check collection enforcement.
Corey Morgan believes his extensive experience as an assistant county attorney makes him the top candidate for Logan County Attorney. He notes he has performed the following roles:
* Prosecution of Misdemeanors
* Prosecution of DUI and Traffic Offenses
* Preliminary Hearings for Felonies
* Legal Advice to Social Workers and Law Enforcement
* Drafting Arrest Warrants and Search Warrants
* Juvenile cases for children who are Abused, Neglected, or Dependent
* Juvenile cases against children who are Public Offenders and Status Offenders
* Youthful Offender Hearings
* Guardianships for Disabled Persons
* Child Support Collection and Modification
* Mental Inquest
* County Tax Collection
* Multidisciplinary Team Meetings
* Probation Revocation Hearings
* Criminal Bench and Jury Trials
"I have also served as a defense attorney in many cases as part of my private practice. So I know how the system works as both a prosecutor and a defense attorney," he says.
Corey Morgan is the Republican nominee for Logan County Attorney.


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