FRANKFORT, KY - Gov. Andy Beshear has made the following appointments to Kentucky boards and commissions:

Gov. Beshear has appointed Billy Johnson and Darren Embry as Special Justices to the Supreme Court of Kentucky for Case Nos. 2024-SC-0317-D, 2024-SC-0320-D and 2024-SC-0257-D.

• Billy Johnson of Pikeville is an attorney at Billy Johnson Law Firm and represents the 7th Supreme Court District.
• Darren Embry of Leitchfield is an attorney at Embry Merritt Shaffar Womack PLLC and represents the 2nd Supreme Court District.

Gov. Beshear has reappointed Jerry Ferrell and has appointed Jay Smith, Joshua Cummins and Fred Shortridge to the Fish and Wildlife Resources Commission.

• Jerry Ferrell of Richmond is retired. He represents the 6th Commission District and will serve for a term expiring Dec. 31, 2028.
• Jay Smith of Paducah is the executive vice president of Jim Smith Contracting Company and represents the 1st Commission District. He replaces Robin Floyd, whose term has expired, and will serve for a term expiring Dec. 31, 2028.
• Joshua Cummins of Owenton is the pastor at Revive Church and represents the 5th Commission District. He replaces Josh Lillard, whose term has expired, and will serve for a term expiring Dec. 31, 2028.
• Fred Shortridge of Mt. Sterling is retired and represents the 8th Commission District. He replaces Gary Greene, who was not confirmed by the Senate, and will serve for the remainder of the unexpired term expiring Dec. 31, 2026.

Gov. Beshear has appointed Alicia Stigall as a member of the Kentucky Board of Cosmetology.

• Alicia Stigall of Monticello is a cosmetology teacher at Somerset Community and Technical College and represents cosmetology teachers as a member of the Board. She replaces Joni Upchurch, who has resigned, and will serve for the remainder of the unexpired term expiring Feb. 1, 2026.

Gov. Beshear has appointed Allison Wiseman to the Public Advocacy Commission to serve for a term expiring July 15, 2026.

• Allison Wiseman of Prospect is the director of communications at Family & Children’s Place and represents persons with substantial experience in the representation of children as a member of the Commission. She replaces John Rosenberg, whose term has expired.

Gov. Beshear has appointed Amy Spiller to the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority for a term expiring January 28, 2029.

• Amy Spiller is the president of utility operations in Ohio and Kentucky at Duke Energy.

Gov. Beshear has reappointed Joe Choate to the Kentucky Fire Commission for a term expiring Nov. 30, 2027.

• Joe Choate of Hardyville is the county judge/executive of Hart County and represents county judge/executives as a member of the Commission.

Gov. Beshear has reappointed Tyra Thomas Walker, John Ward and Paula Garner to the Juvenile Justice Oversight Council to serve for terms expiring Aug. 1, 2026.

• Tyra Thomas Walker of Louisville is a special education teacher at Jefferson County Public Schools and represents public schools as a member of the Council.
• John Ward of Elizabethtown is the Hardin County sheriff and represents law enforcement as a member of the Council.
• Paula Garner of Simpsonville is the CEO of Maryhurst Inc. and represents community-based organizations as a member of the Council.

Gov. Beshear has reappointed Dr. Kimathi Doss and Ben Crittenden as members of the Kentucky Traumatic Brain Injury Trust Fund Board to serve for terms expiring June 29, 2028.

• Dr. Kimathi Doss of Prospect is a neurosurgeon at Norton Healthcare and represents neurosurgeons as a member of the Board.
• Ben Crittenden of Lexington is an attorney at Morgan Potter McGarvey and represents family members of individuals with traumatic brain injuries as a member of the Board.

Gov. Beshear has reappointed Holly Hatfield of Richmond to the Appalachian/Kentucky Artisans Gateway Center Authority to serve for a term expiring Dec. 31, 2028.

• Holly Hatfield is a disability and accessibility services specialist at Berea College and represents members at-large as a member of the Authority.

Gov. Beshear has reappointed Tom Halbleib of Glenview to the Kentucky Local Government Public-Private Partnership Board to serve for a term expiring July 31, 2028.

• Tom Halbleib is an attorney with Stites & Harbison.

Gov. Beshear has reappointed Laura Guffey of Edgewood to the Kentucky Board of Social Work to serve for a term expiring June 21, 2028.

• Laura Guffey is a social worker at St. Elizabeth Healthcare and represents licensed social workers as a member of the Board.