Jack Kelley, former judge Tom Dawson enter race for Nelson district judge
STAFF REPORT
Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012, 1:15 p.m. UPDATED 5:30 p.m. — One local attorney and a former district judge have filed for the election to fill the unexpired term of District Judge Bob Heaton who died unexpectedly July 16th.
TOM DAWSON
John S. “Jack” Kelley of Edgewood Drive filed Tuesday for district judge for the state’s 57th judicial district. Kelley is the son of Nelson County Attorney John Kelley.
Kelley has been serving as an Assistant County Attorney for the past three years, along with Matthew Hite, to his father, John S. Kelley, Jr., who serves as Nelson County Attorney. He is also a partner the law offices of Kelley & Hite, PLLC.
As an Assistant Nelson County Attorney, Jack has been responsible for prosecuting traffic offenses, misdemeanor crimes and most juvenile cases in Nelson District Court. He has also handled preliminary hearings, guardianship cases, mental health hospitalizations and other areas handled by the District Judge. Jack worked closely with Judge Heaton. He says, if elected, he will continue to treat all those before him fairly and equally, a practice he learned from Judge Heaton. Jack stated “I want to take my experience and use it to continue to serve the people of Nelson County, particularly those that cannot always help themselves.”
A lifelong resident of Bardstown, Kelley and his wife, Deanna, are both charter and active members of the Bardstown-Nelson County Jaycees, for which Kelley currently serves on the Board of Directors. Kelley also serves on the Board of Directors for both the Guthrie Opportunity Center Foundation and My New Kentucky Home Habitat for Humanity. He is a 1999 graduate of Bethlehem High School and a 2009 graduate of Thomas Goode Jones School of Law, Montgomery, Alabama. He is the son of Betty Kelley Hart and John S. Kelley, Jr., both of Bardstown.
Former District Judge Tom C. Dawson filed Thursday to run for the open district judge position. Dawson previously served as district judge from 1980 through 1998. During his term as district judge, Dawson served as chief regional district judge. He is founder of the Nelson County Foster Care Review Board and co-founder of the Nelson County Court Appointed Special Advocate Program.
The deadline for the Nov. 6 election is 4 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 14.
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