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Thursday, February 22, 2007

IWU ALUMNI NEWS: Attorney J.R. Schrand become county's next judge

Fletcher to pick judge from list

Boone County Attorney J.R. Schrand and two lesser known lawyers were nominated Wednesday to become the county's next circuit judge.

Schrand - a Republican who is the son of a popular doctor and the nephew of state Sen. Dick Roeding - is widely considered to be the front-runner for the gubernatorial appointment. He is the only one of the three who filed for the position on the November ballot.

The new position, which covers the Boone and Gallatin counties circuit, was created by the 2006 General Assembly. It was meant to help reduce the caseload of Circuit Judge Tony Frohlich, which is the largest in the state.

The new post is one of nine new circuit or district judgeships created across Kentucky.

The selection of the three nominees was made during a closed-door meeting of a judicial nominating committee, chaired by Chief Justice Joseph Lambert and otherwise made up of residents from the two counties.

In addition to Schrand, the committee nominated Teresa Cunningham, a solo practitioner in Florence, and Colleen Hegge, a partner with Noyes, McMain & Hegge in Union. It's now up to Gov. Ernie Fletcher to select one of the three to fill the position until November.

Neither Cunningham nor Hegge filed for the November election, so if either was the governor's choice, she would have to step down in November.

"I'm in total shock," said Cunningham, who nonetheless said it is good that two of the three candidates are women.

"I'm real excited and very pleased. I hope I get the nomination."

But many in Boone County said Schrand has both the political and personal connection to get the nomination, and the fund-raising ability to win the November election.

He could not be reached for comment; his secretary said he was in meetings all day.

The only other person who filed for the election is Gregory McDowell, currently the county's deputy master commissioner. He also could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Schrand, 45, first elected as county attorney in 2002 and re-elected last year, holds a master's of business administration degree from Indiana Wesleyan University in addition to a law degree from Northern Kentucky University.

If he is appointed judge, Boone County Judge-Executive Gary Moore will name his replacement as county attorney.

 


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