Bench & Bar September/October 2025

Joseph L. Price (1877-1949) was born in Fairdealing (Marshall County), Kentucky where he served as County Judge from 1910 to 1914. He relocated to Paducah in 1922 upon election as Circuit Judge of the judicial district which then included McCracken and Marshall Counties. He served 27 years as Circuit Judge until his

Stephen “Sonny” E. Smith, Jr. of Paducah practices law with the law firm of McMurry & Livington, PLLC. A graduate of Murray State University and Northern Kentucky University Chase College of Law, he was admit ted to the Kentucky Bar in 1981. Mr.

death in 1949. A graduate of Bowling Green Business School and Southern Normal School (now Western Kentucky University), he read for the law while serving as clerk of the Marshall Circuit Court and was admitted to the Kentucky Bar in 1907. Judge Price was honored posthumously as a Life Fellow by his family at the 8 th Annual Judge Edward H. Johnstone Award Dinner. Julie Howard Price of Paducah is a graduate of Freed-Hardeman University and the University of Kentucky Rosen berg College of Law. She was admitted to the Kentucky Bar in 1994. Ms. Price was enrolled as a Life Fellow by G. Kent Price at the 8 th Annual Judge Edward H. Johnstone Award Dinner.

Smith was enrolled as a Life Fellow by McMurry & Living ton, PLLC at the 8 th Annual Judge Edward H. Johnstone Award Dinner. Catherine D. Stavros practices law at Dunham Law PLLC in Fort Mitchell. She also currently serves as a member of the Kentucky Bar Association Board of Gov ernors representing the 6 th Supreme Court District. A graduate of Transylvania Uni versity and Northern Kentucky University Chase College of Law, she was admitted to the Kentucky Bar in 1995 and is also a member of the Ohio Bar. Ms. Stavros is a Life Fellow.

Judge Brandi Hagan Rogers of Marion currently serves as Family Court Judge of the 5 th Judicial Cir cuit representing Crittenden, Union and Webster Counties. A graduate of Western Kentucky University and Northern Ken tucky University Chase College of Law, she was admitted to the Kentucky Bar in 2006.

Judge Larry E. Thompson of Pikeville currently serves as Chief Judge, Kentucky Court of Appeals. Prior to being elected to the Kentucky Court of Appeals in November 2018, he spent 23 years as a trial court judge. In 2022, Judge Thompson was appointed Co-Chair of the newly created Kentucky Judicial Mental Health Commis

Aileen Salud Rose practices law in Hendersonville, Tennessee. A graduate of Vanderbilt University and the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law, she was admitted to the Kentucky Bar in 1997.

sion by (then) Deputy Chief Justice Debra Lambert. A graduate of Eastern Kentucky University and Northern Kentucky University Chase College of Law, he was admitted to the Kentucky Bar in 1987 and is also a member of the West Virginia Bar. Judge Thompson is a Life Fellow.

Jonathan B. Russelburg , originally of Owensboro, currently serves as Associate In-house Counsel for RiverValley Consulting Services, Inc. and resides in Henderson. A graduate of West ern Kentucky University and Southern Illinois University Simmons Law School, he was admitted to the Kentucky Bar in 2024.

All donations are fully tax deductible. To learn more about becoming a Fellow or a member of the Partners for Justice Society, please visit kybarfoundation.org/donate or contact the Kentucky Bar Foundation at (800) 874-6582.

Mr. Russelburg was enrolled as a Life Fellow by Triple I Properties, Inc. at the 8 th Annual Judge Edward H. Johnstone Award Dinner.

Ronald G. Sheffer of Louisville practices law at Sheffer & Monhollen, PLLC. A graduate of Western Kentucky University and the University of Kentucky Rosenberg College of Law, he was admitted to the Ken tucky Bar in 1967. Mr. Sheffer is a Life Fellow.

Our list of Fellows continues on the next page.

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