Judge Clayton is a former Chief Judge of the Kentucky Court of Appeals and has served as a trial judge in the District, Family, and Circuit Courts, including serving as Chief Judge and Chief Regional Judge for the Jefferson Circuit Court. She served a total of 26 years on the bench. During this time, Judge Clayton was the chair of the Jefferson County Racial Fairness Commission for Jefferson County and also helped develop the Community Listening Session which was designed to inform citizens of the role of all the “players” in the judicial system. Citizens were able to ask questions and raise concerns as well as to participate in focus groups that addressed particular issues.

Prior to her judicial service, Judge Clayton maintained a private law practice and had worked as an attorney for the Internal Revenue Service, the University of
Louisville Student Legal Services office, and the Legal Aid Society. Judge Clayton is a graduate of Defiance College and of the University of Louisville’s Brandeis School of Law.

Judge Clayton is now a mediator with the Retired Judges Mediation and Arbitration Services, and also serves as a mediator in the felony mediation program of the Kentucky Court of Justice. She also serves on several boards and committees.

Judge Clayton is the recipient of several honors including the 2012 Distinguished Judge of the Year Award from the Kentucky Bar Association, the Louisville Bar Association Justice William McAnulty Trailblazer Award, the Kentucky Education Association Lucy Harth Smith-Atwood S. Wilson Award for Civil and Human Rights in Education, the Louisville Branch NAACP Meritorious Service Award, The Benjamin F. Shobe Civility Award, and recognition from the U.S. House of Representatives for Service to the Community.