Phillip Shepherd

Professional career

• Phillip J. Shepherd is the Chief Circuit Court Judge for Kentucky’s 48th Judicial Circuit, serving Franklin County, and has been on the bench since 2006
• Former roles include: Secretary of Natural Resources & Environmental Protection, Commonwealth of Kentucky (1991–1995) Federal commissioner, Ohio River Sanitation Commission (1994–2001) Private attorney in multiple Kentucky firms (1982–1997)
• Law clerk to U.S. District Judge Edward Johnstone (Western District of Kentucky), 1980–1982
• The Chief Circuit Judge for the 48th Judicial Circuit, which covers Franklin County, Kentucky
• Shepherd’s office is part of the Franklin County Courthouse in Frankfort, KY, and he is listed among the judges of the 48th Judicial Circuit on the Kentucky Court of Justice website

Education

Additional information

• He began his judicial service in November 2006 and was re‐elected without opposition in 2014.
• Chief Justice John D. Minton Jr. said the case showed the need for judges to avoid situations where impartiality could reasonably be questioned