Judge Kathy Stein
Lexington, KY - Longtime Lexington state legislator Kathy Stein has been appointed to fill a vacant Family Court Judgeship by Gov. Steve Beshear.
Stein, who served from 1997 to 2008 in the Kentucky House and has been in the Senate since 2009, was appointed over fellow Lexington lawyers Carl David Devine and Christian Renau Worth. All three UK's College of Law grads were announced Friday as nominees for the open spot on the bench by the Judicial Nominating Commission, led by Chief Justice of Kentucky John D. Minton Jr.
The vacancy being filled by Stein was created when Judge Jo Ann Wise retired on Aug. 2.
“Senator Stein’s extensive legal experience and long tenure in the Legislature demonstrate her commitment to public service, and she is well-qualified for the position of Family Court judge in Fayette County,” Gov. Beshear said in a release.
Stein (D-Lexington), Senator from the 13th district, most recently ran unopposed in the 2012 election for a term running through 2016. In a redistricting attempt in 2012, her district was was moved to include Maysville and surrounding northern Kentucky areas while Lexington was slated to be assigned to fellow Democrat Dorsey Ridley of Henderson, whose term runs through the end of next year. That district map, which would have effectively booted Stein from the Senate, was thrown out by the state Supreme Court and Stein was ultimately able to keep her seat.
Beshear has called a special election for Tuesday Dec. 10 to fill Stein's vacated seat.
“Holding the special election in December means the citizens of each district will have representation in the next session of the General Assembly,” Gov. Beshear said in a separate release from his office. “This session will review several significant issues in the Commonwealth, and it is critical that all Kentuckians have a voice in the legislature.”