By KENNETH HART - The Independent
FRANKFORT — Gov. Steve Beshear on Thursday reached into two commonwealth’s attorneys offices to fill a pair of area judicial vacancies.
Scott T. Reese, assistant Boyd commonwealth’s attorney, was appointed judge for Division 1 of the 32nd Judicial District, which consists solely of Boyd County.
The position came open in July when Beshear appointed George W. Davis III to the Boyd Circuit Court bench. Davis replaced Marc I. Rosen, who took senior judge status. Rosen had been filling the district judge position on an interim basis.
Reese has served as assistant to Boyd Commonwealth’s Attorney David Justice since Justice took office in 2007. He served as the lead prosecutor in several high-profile criminal cases during his tenure there.
Reese earned his legal degree from Widener University in Pennsylvania and his bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech University.
He was one of three candidates for the position. The others were Ashland attorneys Roger W. Hall and Anna H. Ruth.
Beshear also on Thursday appointed David D. Flatt to the vacant family court judge position in the 37th Judicial Circuit — Carter, Morgan and Elliott counties.
Flatt is currently commonwealth’s attorney for those same three counties. His appointment fills the vacancy that was created by Kristi Gossett’s resignation.
Senior judges John Cox and Lewis Nicholls had been hearing family court cases in the three counties on a fill-in basis.
The other candidates for the position were Gary E. Conn, Flatt’s former assistant and a former Carter County domestic relations commissioner, and Morgan County Attorney Steve O’Connor.
Flatt received his law degree from Salmon P. Chase School of Law at Northern Kentucky University and his bachelor’s degree from Morehead State University.
Also on Thursday, the governor appointed Rowan County Attorney William W. Roberts to a judge’s position in the 21st Judicial District — Rowan, Bath, Menifee and Montgomery counties.
That vacancy was created by the appointment of William E. Lane as circuit judge for the same three counties. He replaced William Mains, who took senior status.
Roberts is also a graduate of Chase and of MSU.
Reese, Flatt and Roberts all will have to run for re-election next year.
KENNETH HART can be reached at khart@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2654.
