The Mountain Eagle
WHITESBURG WEATHER

Governor is expected to pick new judge soon




Governor Matt Bevin is expected to soon appoint temporary Letcher Circuit Court judge from a list of three nominees recommended by the local Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC).

The commission selected attorneys Harold D. Bolling of Whitesburg, James Wiley “Jimmy” Craft II of Eolia, and Darrell Hall of Whitesburg as nominees eligible to serve as the temporary judge until an election is held in November.

Craft and Hall both filed to run for Letcher Circuit judge in January.

Craft, who received his juris doctor from Western Michigan University’s Thomas M. Cooley Law School, has a law practice and previously served as assistant Letcher County attorney.

Hall has been in solo law practice since 1987, and received his juris doctor from the University of Kentucky College of Law. Bolling has been in solo law practice since 2011. He served as Letcher County attorney from 1982 through 2010, and received his juris doctor from Northern Kentucky University’s Salmon P. Chase College of Law.

The Circuit Court judicial seat became vacant after Justice Samuel T. Wright III was sworn in as a Supreme Court justice in November.

The JNC consists of Chief Justice of Kentucky John D. Minton Jr., Christopher D. Bates, of Whitco, Bennett Combs, of Whitesburg, Paul Thomas Greer, of Jenkins, Kelvin Hugh Eldridge, of Whitesburg, and attorney members Peyton Reynolds and Craft. Chief Justice Minton is the chairman of the commission.

If Bevin doesn’t appoint one of the three nominees within 60 days upon receiving the recommendations, Chief Justice Minton will make an appointment.



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