Kentucky: Court of Justice - Judge Christopher Shea Nickell

Judge Christopher Shea Nickell was elected to serve on the Kentucky Court of Appeals on November 7, 2006, and represents Division 1 of the 1st Appellate District.

Prior to his election, Judge Nickell practiced law 22 years, serving as a trial attorney, prosecutor, public defender and college instructor. In 1997, he established the Nickell Law Firm in Paducah. He was previously associated with the Law Office of Truman L. Dehner in Morehead, and two Paducah law firms, Boehl, Stopher & Graves, LLP and the Saladino Law Firm. From 1985 to 1986, Judge Nickell served as assistant commonwealth attorney for the 21st Judicial District, which is comprised of Bath, Menifee, Montgomery and Rowan counties. He served as assistant public advocate in Graves County from 1999-2000 through the Paducah trial office of the Department of Public Advocacy. He served as assistant McCracken County attorney from 2002 until his election. In addition, he has taught courses on insurance and risk management at Murray State University and on jurisprudence at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

In 1995, the Kentucky Bar Association named Judge Nickell the Outstanding Kentucky Young Lawyer.

A native and resident of McCracken County, Judge Nickell graduated from Paducah Tilghman High School in 1977. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from DePauw University in 1981, majoring in both political science and communications. At DePauw, he served as student body president and was the recipient of The Walker Cup, presented annually by the faculty to the graduating senior who has contributed most to the campus community. He subsequently served on DePauw’s Board of Trustees. Judge Nickell earned his juris doctor degree from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 1984, where he served as president of the Student Bar Association.

Judge Nickell served as district governor for District 43K of the International Association of Lions Clubs and as president of the Paducah Lions Club. He is a recipient of the organization’s Finis Davis and Melvin Jones awards, and is a trustee on the Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation. He is an Eagle Scout and a board member for the Shawnee Trails Boy Scout Council. He has been involved in numerous other civic organizations, including the Chamber of Commerce, Elks Club, Masons, Habitat for Humanity, Ducks Unlimited and National Wild Turkey Federation.

Judge Nickell is a deacon and adult Sunday school teacher at the Heartland Worship Center (Southern Baptist) in Paducah. He previously served as music director at Concord United Methodist Church in Paducah, and is a member of Gideons International.

Judge Nickell was married to the late Lana Jean “Jeanne” (King) Nickell, a school teacher, administrator and counselor, who died in 2001. He is the son of Carl Duane “Red” Nickell and Anna June (Starrett) Nickell, who are retired educators.