The Associated Press

FRANKFORT - Gov. Ernie Fletcher appointed two lawyers from the same law firm on Thursday to serve as judges in Lexington.

Fletcher appointed James Ishmael Jr., of Lexington, to a circuit judgeship in the 22nd Judicial Circuit. Ishmael is filling the vacancy created when Judge Kevin Horne retired.

Meanwhile, the governor appointed Thomas Bruce Bell, of Lexington, to a district judgeship in the 22nd Judicial District. Bell will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Rebecca Overstreet.

Both were selected from a list of three candidates the Judicial Nominating Commission provided for each vacancy. Both are attorneys at Fowler, Measle & Bell in Lexington.

Each supported Fletcher, a Republican, with campaign donations in his gubernatorial campaign.

Ishmael contributed $500 to Fletcher's campaign, while Bell gave Fletcher $1,000 in his campaign for governor.

Bell, 48, a lifelong Lexington resident, is a 1978 graduate of Duke University. He graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 1982.

Ishmael, 57, graduated from Eastern Kentucky University in 1969. He earned his law degree from the University of Louisville in 1973.

Their appointments were effective Thursday, Fletcher spokesman Jason Keller said.

Each appointment runs through the next general election, which is this November.