The two candidates running for Kentucky Supreme Court justice in District 1 faced off Wednesday afternoon in a debate hosted by the local League of Women Voters at the Hopkinsville Municipal Center.
State Senator Whitney Westerfield of Christian County and Kentucky Court of Appeals Judge Shea Nickell are vying to fill out the remainder of the term of Justice Bill Cunningham, who retired earlier this year.
Judge Nickell emphasized he’s the only candidate with judicial experience, while Senator Westerfield said he’d apply the law as it’s written and touted his experience as a prosecutor, attorney and legislator.
Senator Westerfield says he’s running partially out of concern of what he has perceived as justices acting outside of their authority.
Judge Nickell says he’s been preparing to fill the role of justice his whole career and he didn’t come to the decision to run lightly.
Westerfield says his strong philosophical leanings on legislative and social issues wouldn’t sway him from applying the law fairly as a justice.
Nickell is telling voters to look at his judicial record and judge whether he’s ruled according to the law.
Both candidates say they support continuing to elect judges in Kentucky, rather than have the governor appoint them to the bench. Both noted they are Republicans, but believe judicial races should remain non-partisan in nature.
Since the race is non-partisan, voters will have to fill in the box for Westerfield or Nickell if they wish to have a say. A straight party ticket vote will not cast a vote for either candidate.
You can watch the entire debate below.
https://www.facebook.com/CityofHopkinsville/videos/1287429168106344/UzpfSTEwOTAyOTc0NTc5NzY5NDoyNzY2MjAzMzYzNDEzNjM5/
Video from City of Hopkinsville Facebook page