Brandeis School of Law Reflects on Storied Career of Alumnus

The Louis D. Brandeis School of Law and its community are deeply saddened by news of the death of Tom Wine, class of 1980, and the Commonwealth's Attorney for Louisville. Since graduation, Wine has served the city and the Commonwealth in a variety of roles. 

Shortly after graduation in 1980, Wine was sworn in as an assistant attorney for the office of Commonwealth’s Attorney in Jefferson County, under David L. Armstrong. In 1982, he was named the Prosecutor of the Year.  Two years later, he moved to the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office, where he served as the chief of the Leviticus Unit, a body charged with investigating fraudulent investments in coal and oil tax shelters.  Wine also spent time as an assistant with the Special Prosecutions Unit and as the first director of the Medicare Fraud and Abuse Control Unit. 

Four years later, he returned as a division chief to the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney in Louisville before running for Circuit Judge of the 30th circuit.  He was successful in 1991, holding a position as a circuit court judge from 1991 to 2006. In 2006 he was elected to the 4th Appellate District of the Kentucky Court of Appeals and was re-elected before he obtained the position of Commonwealth’s Attorney to Jefferson County in 2012. He closed the circle and returned to his first office and was re-elected in 2018 and set to serve until 2025. 

Wine is remembered fondly by those who knew him, as a man committed to his work, but not compelled by status.  His kindness is remembered warmly by the hundreds he mentored.  He was a volunteer with both the cub scouts and the boy scouts, and his work with them was recognized in 2012 when he received the Silver Beaver Award.  His other work volunteering throughout the community was recognized in 1996 when Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO presented him with its Community Service Award. As a Brandeis alumnus, Wine was very supportive of our law students, most recently participating in our Law Review’s symposium last November. We appreciate his many contributions to the Brandeis Law community, Louisville legal community, and the Commonwealth.  

Our thoughts are with his wife and family, and with the rest of the Brandeis community.