The three nominees are Bob Silverthorn, Doug Kemper and Charlie Cunningham. But sources familiar with the process say the Judicial Nominating Commission met Wednesday night and didn't include Cunningham in its list of three names. Olu Stevens was the third name on the list to be submitted to the governor for his appointment. The problem is that Stevens doesn't want the judgeship, having filed to run in the election for the seat then withdrawn his name from the ballot. Apparently Stevens neglected to remove his name from the hat for the interim appointment or the Nominating Commission screwed up, but whatever the case, the problem had to be fixed before Chief Justice Joseph Lambert submitted the final list of candidates to Governor Beshear Thursday morning.

The head of the Administrative Office of the Courts, Jason Nemes, refused to disclose if there was a screwup or the potential reasons because all actions of the Judicial Nominating Commission are secret (another story for another day). The only phone number I could find for Stevens rolled over to a fax machine so I haven't been able to reach him.

Of the three finalists for the appointed judgeship, Kemper is a conservative with ties to Dan Seum who was appointed to a judgeship by Gov. Fletcher before losing the seat in an election; Silverthorn is a retired military officer who's lost two elections for judge and Cunningham is a Louisville attorney with ties to some democratic politicians.

In a not-nearly-as-exciting process, David Bowles, David Holton and Ann Bailey Smith have been nominated for the 16th district District Judgeship in Jefferson County.