The three candidates running for district judge for the 56th District in next month’s primary election have been announced as the nominees to fill the same open seat until November.
The Judicial Nominating Commission, led by Chief Justice of Kentucky John D. Minton Jr., announced Wednesday that Brandon Knoth of Eddyville, Jennifer Nelson of Princeton, and Matthew Schalk of Princeton would be the nominees. The appointee will serve as district judge until a new judge is elected in November.
The judicial seat became vacant when Judge James R. Redd III was appointed as a Circuit Court judge for the 56th District on March 11.
Knoth has his own private law practice and served as the Lyon county attorney for nearly eight years until December 2014.
Nelson has her own private law practice and serves as a trial commissioner for Caldwell County.
Schalk has his own private law practice and serves as the city attorney for Fredonia.
All three are running in the May primary election for the same district judge seat. The top two vote-getters in May will appear in the November general election.
The 56th District is comprised of Caldwell, Lyon, Trigg, and Livingston counties.
The primary duties of the district judge are to handle juvenile matters, city and county ordinances, misdemeanors, violations, traffic offenses, the probate of wills, and arraignments, as well as cases relating to domestic violence and abuse.
The governor has 60 days to appoint Judge Redd’s replacement.
