Supreme Court Justice Wil Schroder resigning after diagnosis of brain tumor

Supreme Court Justice Wil Schroder, a Northern Kentuckian who has served on the state’s highest court since 2006, announced Thursday he was resigning from the state’s highest court after being diagnosed with a brain tumor.

His resignation takes effect immediately. Schroder spent 29 years on the bench including 15 on the court of appeals and nearly eight years as a trial judge before being elected as the justice from the Supreme Court’s 6th District that covers Northern Kentucky.

A statement from Schroder’s family said he was “recently diagnosed with a brain tumor and retiring will allow him to focus on his health and to spend more time with his family.”

Kentucky Chief Justice John D. Minton said he was “very sorry to learn of the retirement of my colleague and dear friend.”

“Wil is highly ethical and is known for standing by his convictions. He brought a sharp intellect and meticulous approach to his work on the Supreme Court. He felt obligated every day to work hard on behalf of the people in his district and the state. The Supreme Court will not be the same without him,” Minton said.

The 6th District Supreme Court seat is up for election in 2014. In the meantime, the judicial nominating committee for that district will meet to suggest names to Gov. Steve Beshear of nominees to fill the seat until the election.