Nominees announced for Kentucky Court of Appeals vacancy

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ)-  The Judicial Nominating Commission has announced nominees to fill the judicial vacancy on the Kentucky Court of Appeals. The vacancy is in the court’s 3rd District, Division 1, which is made up of 27 counties.

The three nominees for the judgeship are attorneys Jacqueline M. Caldwell of Bardstown, Walter F. Maguire Sr. of Somerset and Jonathan R. Spalding of Lebanon.Caldwell has been a solo practitioner since 2003, practicing family law and handling cases involving personal injury, general civil issues, probate, and minor criminal and traffic matters. She also serves as a guardian ad litem in disability cases. She earned her juris doctor from the University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law.

Maguire served the 28th Judicial Circuit (Lincoln, Pulaski and Rockcastle counties) as a Family Court judge from 2007-2013. He was a district judge for the 28th Judicial District (Pulaski and Rockcastle counties) from 1978-82 and 1986-2004.

Spalding is the city attorney for Bradfordsville and serves as a court-appointed parent advocate and guardian ad litem for children. He earned his juris doctor from the University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law.

The judicial seat became vacant when Justice Debra Hembree Lambert was elected to the Supreme Court of Kentucky in November 2018.