Christopher Shea Nickell

Nickell, a native of Paducah, Kentucky, graduated from the city's Paducah Tilghman High School in 1977, followed by a Bachelor of Arts from DePauw University in 1981 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 1984.^[3][4]

Prior to being appointed as a judge, Nickell practiced law for 22 years.^[5] He served as an instructor at Murray State University teaching Insurance and Risk Management and he also taught at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill teaching jurisprudence.^[4]

In 2006, Nickell was elected to be a judge of the Kentucky Court of Appeals.^[6]

On February 6, 2019, Nickell announced he was running for the seat on the Kentucky Supreme Court vacated by the retirement of Bill Cunningham.^[5][7] He was elected on November 5, 2019, defeating state senator Whitney Westerfield.^[8][2] He was sworn into office on December 11, 2019.^[9][10]

Nickell has been a member of the Paducah Lions Club since 1989. He is also an Eagle Scout, he has been recognized as a Kentucky Colonel, Honorary Captain of the Belle of Louisville and a Sagamore of the Wabash.^[6] He is a Life Sponsor of Ducks Unlimited. He is also a 32 Degree Mason, a Silver Life Member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, a Life Fellow of the Kentucky Bar Foundation, a Gideon, and a deacon at Paducah's Heartland Church.^[4]

Nickell and his wife, Carolyn S. Watson are both a Melvin Jones Fellow.^[6]