New Commonwealth Attorney Appointed: How To Make Sense Of All The Recent Judge/Attorney Swapping

Darren Doyle, story:
With all the changes to judgeships in and around Edmonson County over the past year, it's been difficult for some to keep up. The final piece of the puzzle has been completed (for now) with the recent appointment of Blake Chambers to the role of Commonwealth Attorney. A former assistant county attorney in Butler County, Chambers is scheduled to be sworn-in tomorrow at noon at the Butler County Courthouse.

Let's go back to 2014 where changes started to take place. Edmonson County Attorney Greg Vincent ran for reelection against local attorney J.B. Hines. Vincent was upset by Hines, so Hines took over as the new county attorney and Vincent continued practicing law in Brownsville in a private practice.

During this time, Edmonson County (in the 38th District) had two district judges: Judge John M. McCarty and Judge Renona Browning. Tim Coleman served Edmonson County in the role of Commonwealth Attorney, and Judge Ronnie Dortch served as Circuit Judge for Edmonson County.

District Judge Browning retired in August of 2016, which left a vacancy. Judge McCarty pulled double-duty being the only district 38 judge until the role was filled. To fill the vacancy, four attorneys were nominated to be appointed, one of which was Edmonson County's own newly elected (two years in) J.B. Hines. Governor Matt Bevin appointed Hines to the judge's seat in the 38th district and Judge Hines was sworn in on February 27, 2017. Judge Hines will have to run for the position in 2018 if he wants to stay in the role past his appointment.

---

​Hines' appointment caused a vacancy in Edmonson County in the position of County Attorney. Edmonson County Judge Executive Wil Cannon appointed Greg Vincent to return to his former position as County Attorney. Vincent was also sworn in on February 27, 2017. He will remain the County Attorney of EC until the next election, which is 2018. He, too will have to run for the office if he wishes to keep it.

In January 2017, Judge Ronnie Dortch retired from the role of Circuit Judge, citing health concerns as the main reason for retirement. One month later, he was formally reprimanded for an inappropriate sexual relationship with a woman in a case over which Dortch presided. His exit left yet another vacancy.

On April 7, 2017, Governor Matt Bevin made another appointment, naming Commonwealth Attorney Tim Coleman as Circuit Judge. Coleman is set to serve as judge until the 2018 election, where he will have the option of running for the office.

As Judge Coleman moved into a new role....you guessed it. Another vacancy was created. Just this week, yesterday, in fact, Governor Bevin appointed assistant Butler County Attorney Blake Ross Chambers to the position of Commonwealth Attorney where he's scheduled to be sworn-in tomorrow.

So, here's how things are now for Edmonson County: 

• Edmonson County Attorney: Greg Vincent
• District Judges: Judge J.B. Hines and Judge John M. McCarty
• Circuit Judge: Judge Timothy Coleman
• Commonwealth Attorney: Blake Ross Chambers

Another interesting fact? Every name and position listed above is subject to change during the 2018 election.