FRANKFORT, Ky. — 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).
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 2013-2014 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 will be chosen. Recipients are chosen based on their loan-to-income ratio and total student loan debt.
Funds for this loan forgiveness program are provided by the U.S. Department of Justice, working with agencies in each state and the District of Columbia. KHEAA has received a grant for this fiscal year. Continued funding of the program is contingent upon the availability of federal dollars.
The maximum award is $1,120. Each award is paid directly to the lender.
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. Applications must be postmarked or received by Feb. 7.
For complete information or to apply, visit kheaa.com and click on the John R. Justice Loan Repayment link in the left column.
To learn how to plan and prepare for higher education, go to www.gotocollege.ky.gov. 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, ext. 6-7372.
