Public Prosecutors, Defenders May Qualify for Student Loan Forgiveness Program

(FRANKFORT, Ky. - April 16, 2021) — Public prosecutors and public defenders in Kentucky may qualify for student loan forgiveness through the John R. Justice Grant program, administered by the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA).

“Our public prosecutors and public defenders provide vital services in Kentucky’s criminal justice system, protecting both the public and the defendant,” Gov. Andy Beshear said. “The John R. Justice Grant program is a way we can thank them for all they do. Without them, many victims and defendants in our state courts would not receive adequate legal representation.”

Applications must be postmarked or received by May 7. The estimated award is $800 per year. Awards are paid directly to the lender.

Eligible attorneys include prosecutors and public defenders who are full-time employees of the Commonwealth or a local government. Attorneys who supervise, educate or train prosecutors and defenders are also eligible.

Funding is available for loan forgiveness for 48 attorneys for the 2021–2022 fiscal year. Three prosecutors and three public defenders will be chosen from each of the seven state Supreme Court districts, and three prosecutors and three public defenders with statewide responsibilities also will be chosen. Recipients are selected based on their loan-to-income ratio and total student loan debt.

Funding is provided by the U.S. Department of Justice. KHEAA has received a grant for this fiscal year. Continued funding of the program is contingent upon the availability of federal dollars.

Applicants must sign three-year service agreements and have annual salaries of less than $55,000. Prior-year recipients must reapply but do not have to sign another service agreement if selected.

For complete information or to apply, visit kheaa.com and click on the John R. Justice Loan Repayment link in the left column.

KHEAA is the state agency that administers the Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES), need-based grants and other programs to help students pay their higher education expenses. Kentucky Lottery funds pay for many of those programs.

In addition, KHEAA disburses private Advantage Education Loans for its sister agency, the Kentucky Higher Education Student Loan Corporation (KHESLC). For more information about Advantage Education Loans, visit advantageeducationloan.com.

For more information about Kentucky scholarships and grants, visit www.kheaa.com; write KHEAA, P.O. Box 798, Frankfort, KY 40602; or call 800-928-8926.