Christopher Nickell | |
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Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court | |
Assumed office December 11, 2019 | |
Preceded by | David Buckingham |
Personal details | |
Born | Christopher Shea Nickell 1958 or 1959 (age 64–65) Paducah, Kentucky, U.S. |
Political party | Republican[1] |
Education | DePauw 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.
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]
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]
In 2006, Nickell was elected to be a judge of the Kentucky Court of Appeals.[6]
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]
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]
Nickell and his wife, Carolyn S. Watson are both a Melvin Jones Fellow.[6]
Year | Non Partisan | Votes | Pct | Non Partisan | Votes | Pct | |
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2019 | Christopher Shea NICKELL | 71,941 | 57.35% | Whitney H. WESTERFIELD | 53,497 | 42.65% |
Statewide elected officials and legislative leaders of Kentucky | ||
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U.S. senators | ||
State government |
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Senate |
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House |
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Supreme Court |
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