PIKEVILLE — The federal courthouse in Pikeville has been ordered to end all operations by the end of December.

“We’re very disappointed. It’s been a staple of downtown Pikeville for over 80 years,” said Pikeville Mayor Jimmy Carter.

The building was erected in the 1940s and became the Eastern District Federal Court House for cases in the Big Sandy area.

Attorneys say many generations have pushed to keep a judge in place for cases in the mountains, sharing stories about a past president calling former Judge Karl Forester and nominating him to the seat in 1988.

“That was Ronald Reagan. Ronald Reagan was right that we needed somebody in Pikeville and now these many years later, we’re not gonna have anybody,” said attorney Mark Wohlander.

An order has been placed, interrupting the docket

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