Three people have been nominated to fill the Daviess District Court Judge seat left vacant by retired Judge Daniel M. Burlew II.
The nominees — announced Monday by the the Judicial Nominating Commission — are Heather Lynn Wagner Blackburn (a defense attorney at the Department of Public Advocacy), Shannon LeMaster Meyer (a prosecutor with the Daviess County Attorney’s Office), and James Nicholas Payne (a prosecutor with the Daviess County Commonwealth’s Attorney Office).
Burlew retired effective Dec. 1 from the office of District Judge, 6th Judicial District. There are two other Daviess County judges in the 6th Judicial District, Misty L. Miller and David C. Payne.
The Commission helps fill judicial vacancies by appointment when a vacancy occurs outside of the election cycle.
The chief justice meets with the JNC to select three nominees and then forwards those names to the governor.
Gove. Andy Beshear must appoint a judge from this list of three. If he does not appoint a judge within 60 days of receiving the list, the appointment will be made by the Chief Justice John D. Minton.
