The Kentucky Supreme Court is one of the most influential institutions in the state.
While some states appoint their justices, Kentucky is one of the states that put the race on the ballot for citizens to elect a representative on the court for their part of the state.
On November 5, voters in the 24 counties in Kentucky’s 1st Supreme Court district will see two names on the ballot for this non-partisan race.
Managing Editor of The Bottom Line, Jacqueline Pitts, sat down with both candidates to discuss their motivations, priorities, judicial philosophy, and more.
State Senator Whitney Westerfield, of Hopkinsville, has served in the state Senate since 2012, where he currently serves as the Chairman for the Senate Judiciary Committee. He is also an attorney with the Fletcher Law Firm in Hopkinsville after serving over five years as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney.
Watch the full interview with Westerfield below:
Kentucky Court of Appeals Judge Christopher Nickell is also running for the open seat.
Nickell practiced law for 22 years, serving as a Kentucky trial attorney, prosecutor and public defender, as well as an instructor at Murray State University before taking on the position of Kentucky Court of Appeals Judge.
Watch the interview with Nickell below:
The seat was held by Supreme Court Justice Bill Cunningham, who announced his retirement in December 2018. Governor Matt Bevin then appointed Justice David Buckingham, who is not running in the November election to finish the remainder of Cunningham’s term. That term ends in 2022.
The nonpartisan election will take place in the statewide general election on Tuesday, November 5.
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