Kentucky Supreme Court justice battles brain cancer

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Kentucky's first black Supreme Court justice said he has lung cancer that has spread to his brain.

William E. McAnulty Jr., 59, who was born in Indianapolis and received a bachelor's degree from Indiana University, said he will have surgery next week to remove a 1-inch segment of his brain.
McAnulty, who won election to a full term on the court in 2006, said he met with a neurosurgeon Thursday to discuss the diagnosis and surgery.
"My only question was, will this make me a UK fan or affect my political outlook?" McAnulty said. "He assured me it won't, so I'm excited about that."
McAnulty won a full eight-year term on the high court in November, defeating Jefferson Circuit Judge Ann O'Malley Shake, taking 104,356 votes, or 52 percent, to Shake's 97,155 votes, or 48 percent. The win came just months after Gov. Ernie Fletcher appointed McAnulty to the Supreme Court to replace Justice Martin E. Johnstone, who retired in June 2006.
McAnulty attended law school at the University of Louisville.
"Justice McAnulty is an outstanding individual, and we're saddened to hear this news," Fletcher said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with him, and in keeping with his character, we know he will face this with a great deal of courage."
The surgery will keep McAnulty away from the court for several months, but the justice said he will read briefs and watch videotapes of oral arguments, cast votes in cases and write opinions while he recovers.
"We're just going to whip this and go on," McAnulty said. "I don't plan to miss a beat. I ain't going anywhere."
McAnulty said the lung cancer came from years of smoking, a habit he kicked in December.
"I'm paying the piper. I ain't a victim, and I ain't going to whine," McAnulty said. "If you let something overwhelm you, it will overwhelm you."
McAnulty said his fellow justices have been supportive since the diagnosis, offering help while he's out and their prayers.
McAnulty's first judgeship was in 1975 on the former Jefferson Juvenile Court for two years before winning election to Jefferson District Court, where he stayed until 1983. McAnulty also served as the state Justice Cabinet secretary under former Gov. John Y. Brown Jr., taught at the University of Louisville's Brandeis School of Law, then returned to the bench in 1984. In 1998, he was elected to the Kentucky Court of Appeals.

source : www.indystar.com