Kentucky

Here are some recent appointments to fill those judicial vacancies that have been vacant since the first of the year.  It's about time as many of the senior status holdovers six-month runs are coming to an end.  Of course, the money saved the taxpayers was picked up by the retirement accounts, and a golden opportunity for transitioning from old judge to new judge with an overlap for mentoring has come and gone.

Note that the three Jefferson vacancies should be filled soon.  The nominees have not been released, but the word on the street since the vacancies opened in January has been district court Judge Angela Bisig will move up to circuit court and former district court Judge Benham Sims will get the district court judgeship.  These 'rumors' have been circulating for nearly a year, and I will be curious if the rumors become fact.  As far as I know, Bisig has minimal time and experience in circuit court, but Sims served well in his previous term in district court and has ample experience as a practitioner before the district court which should serve us all well.  Time on and in front of the bench is always a good thing.

Now no names have popped up for the remaining district court judgeship, but I hope that Wanda Baker has put her hat in the ring and gets the appointment;  she has much more experience and maturity than those appointed this year for the Jefferson district court vacancies, and it would be a shame if the political appointment process opts for a less experienced judge. 

Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear has appointed the Honorable Timothy Jon Kaltenbach to the office of Circuit Judge for the 2nd Judicial Circuit, Division 1, consisting of McCracken County. 

Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear has appointed the Honorable Wendell Lewis ?Skip? Hammons Jr. to the office of District Judge for the 27th Judicial District, Division 1, consisting of Knox and Laurel counties.