Kentucky Supreme Court Appointment Update

Ho-hum.  Yawn-stretch.  What?  Yeah, Justice Wil Schroder resigned and Governor Beshear is going to appoint somebody to fill that seat and then in 2014 a few lawyers will run and somebody will win and well, who cares, right?  Well how about this: what do you know about any of the likely candidates?

Michele Keller, Bob Sanders, Katie Stine, Tom Rouse, Greg Popovich, Marty Sheehan are all being talked about as people considering a race.  Michele Keller is the odds on favorite to get the governor's approval but might not be up to a blistering half million dollar run.  They are all very nice people.  Some with more legal experience than others.  Some with court experience.

What else do you know about them?  How do they see the world?  What do they think about the second amendment, right to life, the way in which the constitution should be applied?  Might you be able to tell any of these things from their party affiliations? Probably not.  Should any of this count anyway? 

Who is endorsing them?  What is their agenda?  Do you know these people personally?  Will they perform the job the way you think it ought to be performed?

Does it really matter anyway?

Some things to think about.  Now back to your regular programming.

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Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Wil Schroder Retires

Comments

[Jason Nemes]

Judge Keller has a record, so why don't we stop spewing nonsense and actually take a look at it? What you will find is a thoughtful judge who writes well and does not fit neatly into any category of conservative/liberal, plaintiff-friendly/defense-friendly, etc. I don't agree with her on everything, to be sure, but she is a principled judge and should not be bashed with misinformation and generalities. I am a rock-ribbed Republican, there is no question about that. But I know Judge Keller to be an outstanding person and judge, which is what conservatives like me ought to be looking for. If you disagree, make your arguments based on her considerable record. It is high time that we stop taking shots at judges based on assumptions, and I believe attorneys have a responsibility to respond to the uninformed with information.

[Sarah F.]

I don't understand why you wouldn't run. You have the most experience in combination with political know-how in a conservative district and you ran pretty well last time against a big family. None of the others can piece all that together and at least you have a record of conservative views that is unshakable. I say go for it.

[Ron]

You can't be seriously thinking about running? After exposing Tomas Massey the tea party will take orders from him to keep their distance. You are not enough of a politician and don't play the game. People might say they don't trust politicians but they keep electing them. Stay where you are. You are about the only voice of reason we've got left.

[Jonathan]

I like the idea of having a choice between good solid democrats for a change in this district.

I read your crap because you give me a reason to keep up the fight. The last thing we need on the Supreme Court is somebody like you so I'm glad to hear that governor Beshear is going to get to make the appointment.

One of these days we are going to have people with some sense see the value in gun registration so we can keep the mentally ill from killing our kids. We don't need right wing ideologues in any of our court rooms especially the Supreme Court.

[Dan's Lover]

I am a lawyer and I saw the article on LawReader about this race where you said you were considering running for Supreme Court. I have one idea. You can't win. You have too much experience, you have too much success and you can't hide where you stand. People vote for judges because lawyers tell them to and you can't get the liberal lawyers to support you.

I know that you won that big case last time you ran and that you stood up to the big guys in Frankfort to do it. But that didn't score you any points with the democrats who control the court system.

What you would need to win is about $600,000 from Massie's group in Texas and you've screwed that pooch.

I'd say you should self finance this time and freak the hell out of the others. All the ones you mentioned need the job more than you.

[Boone Patriot]

Of course the Governor is going to appoint Keller. She has a very "close relationship" with some prominent members of the Guiduligi family in Campbell county. And she is a woman, and if he appoints her he gets to appoint somebody else to her spot on the Court of Appeals and if he appoints a sitting judge to that spot he gets a third appointment.

But the bigger question is, does she have the balls to run for the seat and potentially give up the one she's got? There is certainly no guarantee that a liberal in this district is going to win in this climate, and I'm not sure she could raise what will be needed. It will be a big year and the R's will be out in full force.

My guess is that she takes a pass on the appointment. Not sure she can compete in a year with Massie, McConnell and all the republicans in the Northern Kentucky area on the ballot.

Hmmmmmmm...... something to think about Marcus.

[Stan]

You ran in 2006 why didn't you include your name? You have the credentials and people sure don't have to guess where you stand.

I'd say in this environment you probably are the only one we could count on to stave off the rulings of the complete control of democrats at the trial level and the huge majority they have at the Court of Appeals level.

And if the debate over important cases comes down to the seven Supreme Court justices I'd sure rather have you in there arguing our case than the others you mentioned.

So why didn't you add your name to the mix Mr. Carey?

[Marc's Reply: Thank you for the kind words. But the battle isn't about principles anymore it, instead it's about political popularity. I've spent more time studying Patrick Henry than Ashley Judd so I'm ill equipped it seems. Thank you for the comment.]