On December 10, 2016, the U.S. Senate confirmed Chief Justice John Minton from Kentucky to serve on the SJI Board of Directors. Chief Justice Minton was nominated by the President on July 13, 2016. He was elected to the Supreme Court of Kentucky in 2006, and reelected in 2014. His fellow justices elected him as Chief Justice in 2008, 2012, and 2016. Chief Justice Minton was in private practice for 15 years before serving as a Circuit Court Judge from 1992 to 2003, and a Kentucky Court of Appeals Judge from 2003 to 2006. In 2016, He was elected by his fellow chief justices to serve as President of the Conference of Chief Justices and Chair of the National Center for State Courts Board of Directors. He holds degrees from Western Kentucky University and the University of Kentucky College of Law.