Michelle Keller
Michelle M. Keller is a justice on the Kentucky Supreme Court, representing Kentucky's 6th Supreme Court District. She was appointed to this court on April 3, 2013, by Democratic Governor Steve Beshear to fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Wil Schroder. She is the fifth woman to serve on the court.[1][2]
Keller was re-elected in 2014, winning an eight-year term that expired on January 1, 2023. [3] She defeated Teresa L. Cunningham in the general election on November 4, 2014, receiving 58.4 percent of the vote. Following the election, Cunningham filed suit alleging that Keller and her campaign supporters harassed her and that the election results should be thrown out.The suit was ultimately dismissed. To learn more about this story, please click here.
Education
Keller graduated from Northern Kentucky University in 1985 with a degree in psychology while working as a nurse. She received her J.D. from Northern Kentucky University Salmon P. Chase College of Law in 1990.[4]
Career
Keller formerly served on the Kentucky Court of Appeals, 6th Appellate District, after being elected in November 2006. She served on that court until her appointment to the supreme court. She has also served as a court of appeals representative on the Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission.[4]
Keller practiced law with the firm Arnzen, Wentz, Molloy, Laber and Storm PSC before her election to the appellate court. She also previously served as an assistant county prosecutor. She is an adjunct professor at Xavier University.[4]
Elections
2014
- See also: Kentucky Supreme Court elections, 2014
Keller ran for re-election to the Kentucky Supreme Court.
General: She defeated Teresa L. Cunningham in the general election on November 4, 2014, receiving 58.4 percent of the vote.
[5]
Endorsements
- Kentucky AFL-CIO[6]
Noteworthy events
Keller and Cunningham in court over 2014 election results
A month after the Keller won the November 2014 election, her opponent, Teresa L. Cunningham, filed suit alleging that Keller and her campaign supporters harassed her and that the election results should be thrown out. In February 2015, Judge Kathy Lape of the 16th Judicial Circuit Court dismissed the case, finding Cunningham's allegations "absurd" and "not meeting the threshold of fraud, intimidation, bribery or violence required by (state law)."[7] Keller, in return, requested that sanctions be handed down against Cunningham and that Cunningham pay her attorney's fees in the amount of $19,000.[7]
See also
External links
- Kentucky Supreme Court website
- WKU Public Radio, "Keller to be Formally Sworn In to State Supreme Court," May 13, 2013
Footnotes
- ↑ Kentucky.com, "Judge Michelle Keller to become third female justice on Kentucky Supreme Court," April 3, 2013
- ↑ WVXU, "Kentucky Supreme Court vacancy being filled by judge from Northern Kentucky," April 3, 2013
- ↑ Judicial selection in Kentucky
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Kentucky Court of Justice, "Justice Michelle M. Keller," accessed August 20, 2014
- ↑ Kentucky Secretary of State, "Election: 2014 Primary Election: Justice of the Supreme Court," accessed January 29, 2014
- ↑ Northern Kentucky Labor Council, "Endorsements," accessed August 20, 2014
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Cincinnati.com, "Bitter Supreme Court election drags on in court," March 7, 2015
Federal courts:
Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Kentucky, Western District of Kentucky • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Kentucky, Western District of Kentucky
State courts:
Kentucky Supreme Court • Kentucky Court of Appeals • Kentucky Circuit Courts • Kentucky District Courts • Kentucky Family Court
State resources:
Courts in Kentucky • Kentucky judicial elections • Judicial selection in Kentucky
