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Christopher Shea Nickell

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Christopher Nickell
Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court
Assumed office
December 11, 2019
Preceded byDavid Buckingham
Personal details
Born
Christopher Shea Nickell

1958 or 1959 (age 64–65)
Paducah, Kentucky, U.S.
Political partyRepublican[1]
EducationDePauw University (BA)
University of Kentucky (JD)

Christopher Shea Nickell (born c. 1958 or 1959)[2] is an American lawyer who has served a justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court.

Education

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Nickell, a native of Paducah, Kentucky, graduated from the city's Paducah Tilghman High School in 1977, followed by a Bachelor of Arts from DePauw University in 1981 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 1984.[3][4]

Career

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Prior to being appointed as a judge, Nickell practiced law for 22 years.[5] He served as an instructor at Murray State University teaching Insurance and Risk Management and he also taught at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill teaching jurisprudence.[4]

State court service

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In 2006, Nickell was elected to be a judge of the Kentucky Court of Appeals.[6]

Kentucky Supreme Court service

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On February 6, 2019, Nickell announced he was running for the seat on the Kentucky Supreme Court vacated by the retirement of Bill Cunningham.[5][7] He was elected on November 5, 2019, defeating state senator Whitney Westerfield.[8][2] He was sworn into office on December 11, 2019.[9][10]

Associations and memberships

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Nickell has been a member of the Paducah Lions Club since 1989. He is also an Eagle Scout, he has been recognized as a Kentucky Colonel, Honorary Captain of the Belle of Louisville and a Sagamore of the Wabash.[6] He is a Life Sponsor of Ducks Unlimited. He is also a 32 Degree Mason, a Silver Life Member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, a Life Fellow of the Kentucky Bar Foundation, a Gideon, and a deacon at Paducah's Heartland Church.[4]

Personal life

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Nickell and his wife, Carolyn S. Watson are both a Melvin Jones Fellow.[6]

Electoral history

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JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT, 1ST SUPREME COURT DISTRICT, UNEXPIRED TERM[8]
Year Non Partisan Votes Pct Non Partisan Votes Pct
2019 Christopher Shea NICKELL 71,941 57.35% Whitney H. WESTERFIELD 53,497 42.65%

References

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  1. ^ Brown, Jennifer P. (October 17, 2019). "Ky. Supreme Court candidates Westerfield, Nickell differ mainly on experience". Hoptown Chronicle.
  2. ^ a b "Nickell wins District 1 seat in KY Supreme Court". Forward Kentucky. November 7, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  3. ^ "Christopher Shea Nickell Judge Profile on Martindale.com". www.martindale.com. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  4. ^ a b c "Justice Christopher Shea Nickell". kycourts.gov. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Appellate Judge Announces Run For Kentucky Supreme Court Seat". www.wkms.org. February 6, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  6. ^ a b c "JUDGE CHRISTOPHER SHEA NICKELL INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR" (PDF). Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  7. ^ Latek, Tom; Today, Kentucky (February 4, 2019). "Veteran appeals judge seeks vacated seat on Ky. Supreme Court". Kentucky Today. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  8. ^ a b "Election Night Reporting". results.enr.clarityelections.com. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  9. ^ Wright, John (December 6, 2019). "Justice Shea Nickell to be sworn in as Supreme Court justice Dec. 11 in Frankfort". Murray Ledger and Times. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  10. ^ "Justice Nickell sworn in as Kentucky Supreme Court justice". www.wkyt.com. December 12, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
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Legal offices
Preceded by Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court
2019–present
Incumbent