Staff Report
Kenton Family Court Judge Lisa Osborne Bushelman has been granted “temporary retirement” from her duties, effective today through September 1, for medical reasons.
The order for temporary leave “without affecting her pay status,” was signed by Kent Westberry as chairman of the Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission.
Westberry is an “alternate” chairman on this matter, since Stephen D. Wolnitzek recused himself, as did Karen A. Thomas of Newport. Wolnitzek is an attorney with Wolnitzek, Rowekamp & DeMarcus and has been a member and chair of the Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission (formerly the Kentucky Judicial Retirement and Removal Commission) since 1996.
Wolnitzek explained that the commission does address misconduct issues but also has jurisdiction of physical and mental disability issues.
Any details on the nature of Judge Bushelman’s medical issues would be confidential, as would be any issues related to misconduct investigations.
Wolnitzek told the NKyTribune that all that would be public now is what it stated in the public record, and that is Bushelman is on “temporary retirement” until September 1. At that time, he said, a determination would be made as to whether she returns or her leave is extended or she is replaced.
Sources said she had cleared out her office.
Efforts to reach Judge Bushelman were unsuccessful. She was not in her office today; her assistant would say only that she has taken a “leave of absence.”
Judge Anne Delahanty, a judge in the 30th District Court in Jefferson County, filled in today in Bushelman’s office.
Sources say that retired Judge Mickey Foellger is likely to take over Bushelman’s court. Foellger was the first Family Court Judge in the 17th Judicial Circuit serving Campbell County and also served as an assistant Commonwealth Attorney. He has served as President of the Northern Kentucky Bar Association and as President of the District Judges Association of Kentucky.
During Bushelman’s leave, it will fall to Kenton County Chief Regional Judge Greg Bartlett to find a fill-in or fill-ins for Bushelman’s court.
Wolnitzek said Bartlett would have access to a pool of about 21 retired judges who can fill in when vacancies occur.
Bushelman was elected district court judge for the 16th judicial circuit, i November 2006 and was assigned to the then-newly created Kentcky Family Court. She ran for re-election to the core in 2014, winning a eight-year term that expires on January 1, 2023. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Kentucky and her J.D. from Chase College of Law.
Before being elected to the court, she was in private practice for 13 years.
Several friends and acquaintances expressed surprise about her leave.