J.B. Hines Appointed New District Judge

2/1/2017

Darren Doyle, story
Governor Matt Bevin has appointed Edmonson County Attorney J.B. Hines to serve as the next District Judge for the 38th District which is made of Butler, Edmonson, Hancock and Ohio counties.

Attorney Hines was nominated at the end of 2016 along with attorneys Richard Joseph Deye of Morgantown and Tara Nicole Ward of Hartford by the Judicial Nominating Commission.

“I am honored that Governor Bevin appointed me. I thank the citizens of Edmonson County for their support and making this possible," said Hines. "I am proud that my home and office will continue to be in Edmonson County, and that I will continue to serve our county. We have made great strides in the county attorney's office by reaching new, positive benchmarks. I will continue the hard work for our citizens, and work with our county government to make the transition.”

The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for February 27, 2017, at 11 a.m. at the Edmonson County Courthouse. Chief Justice John D. Minton Jr. of the Supreme Court of Kentucky is scheduled to perform the swearing-in ceremony.

Hines has run a private law practice since 2005, dealing with civil litigation, criminal law, domestic relations, wills and probate. He has also served as Edmonson County Attorney, where he implemented new programs to combat uninsured driving and dramatically improve child support collections.

After earning a B.A. in Spanish and government and an MPA from Western Kentucky University, Hines graduated from the Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville.

This appointment takes effect immediately, and Hines shall serve until the position is filled in accordance with the results of the November 2018 midterm election, pursuant to the provisions of Section 152 of the Kentucky Constitution.

Edmonson County Judge Wil Cannon will now be responsible for appointing a new county attorney in the place of Hines' absence.

"I'm not going to wait very long to make the appointment," said Judge Cannon. "There are currently two different attorneys on the list of candidates and I've been in contact with each of them. I'll make a decision as soon as it's possible."

Cannon said that just because a candidate might be an experienced attorney, it wouldn't necessarily be the best fit for the Edmonson County Attorney.

"Being a county attorney is much more complicated than just prosecuting cases. There's a large array of responsibilities that fall outside of prosecution. We need someone with prior experience in that field."

Cannon said that while appointing a new county attorney is very serious and could possibly be difficult, he wishes Hines well with his new role.

"I'm really happy for him," he said. "We both began serving in our offices at the same time and we've grown together. I hate to see him leave as county attorney, but I don't fault him for moving on with this opportunity. There will be a transitional period for us as a county, but we'll make it through just fine."

4 Comments

Suzanne Vitale

2/1/2017 10:04:24 pm

Congratulations. You know I am happy for you!

Jonathan C, York

2/2/2017 02:31:40 am

Congratulations Mr. Hines, you will be missed.

Kitty Houchin

2/2/2017 02:15:48 pm

Congratulations! Can't think of a more deserving individual.

Tim Skees

2/2/2017 02:33:48 pm

Congratulations to Mr. Hines !!

Looking forward to the appointment of the new county atty.
We have some great atty's here as well.

Also looking forward to the appointment of the new Constables in the empty districts we have had for the past two years.

Just as state law requires our county judge to appoint a replacement for Judge Hines as his county atty office is vacant, so does law require the county judge to appoint Constables in districts which have none.

Ref KRS 119.265

"The county judge/executive fills a vacancy in the office of sheriff, coroner, surveyor, county,clerk, county attorney, jailer, or constable (KRS 63.220 and 63.150)."

"If 3 months do not intervene between the occurrence of a vacancy and the next election for local
or state officials, the vacancy is filled by appointment until the second succeeding annual
election at which local or state officials are elected. If after this period of time any part of the
term remains unexpired, the office is filled by election until the regular time for the election to
fill such offices."- KLRC

522.020 Official misconduct in the first degree.
(1) A public servant is guilty of official misconduct in the first degree when, with intent to obtain or confer a benefit or to injure another person or to deprive another person of a benefit, he knowingly:
(a) Commits an act relating to his office which constitutes an unauthorized exercise of his official functions; or
(b) Refrains from performing a duty imposed upon him by law or clearly inherent in the nature of his office; or
(c) Violates any statute or lawfully adopted rule or regulation relating to his office.
(2) Official misconduct in the first degree is a Class A misdemeanor.
Effective: January 1, 1975
History: Created 1974 Ky. Acts ch. 406, sec. 187, effective January 1, 1975.

522.030 Official misconduct in the second degree.
(1) A public servant is guilty of official misconduct in the second degree when he knowingly:
(a) Commits an act relating to his office which constitutes an unauthorized exercise of his official functions; or
(b) Refrains from performing a duty imposed upon him by law or clearly inherent in the nature of his office; or
(c) Violates any statute or lawfully adopted rule or regulation relating to his office.
(2) Official misconduct in the second degree is a Class B misdemeanor.
Effective: January 1, 1975
History: Created 1974 Ky. Acts ch. 406, sec. 188, effective January 1, 1975.

Clearly, failing to appoint Constables in their empty districts would fall into one or both of these statutes.

Just because a persons opinion is " We don't need Constables, and we don't want Constables." , does not allow one to violate STATE LAW.
Seeing that I as a Constable have been treated as such as I have by members of fiscal court, and seeing as I have been begging for the appointment of Constables ( of which our sheriff needs to vet and approve of, in my opinion) for the last two years.... then I make the assumption, that someone has failed in their sworn duty and by Kentucky law, to do their duty.
Therefore they would indeed by chargeable under Ky law, for not appointing those empty positions, lowly Constables or not.

Fiscal court expects and MAKES the only working Constable abide by the law, so why does fiscal court not do so as well ?

The law is the law gentlemen...not what you pick and choose.

Shall we forward this to channel 13 to investigate ?

You were sworn to do a job fairly and honestly. Given history.... that is certainly up for debate by MANY.

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.

J.B. Hines Appointed New District Judge

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