John D. Minton Jr. has a pretty influential fraternity buddy.

Minton, a judge in the 2nd District Court of Appeals in Kentucky, roomed with President Gary Ransdell when they both lived in the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity house in the ’70s.

But Ransdell might be looking up to Minton by the fall, at least judiciously.

Minton is running unopposed for Supreme Court justice of Kentucky in November.

Ransdell said Minton is well-suited for the role.

“John is of the character and intellectual ability that such an outcome was never in doubt,” he said.

Minton was born on March 19, 1952, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

His parents were originally from Trigg County. Minton’s dad, John Minton, got a teaching job at a college in Miami, then moved back to Kentucky to become principal at Trigg County High School, Minton Jr. said.

After moving to Bowling Green, Minton’s father eventually became an interim Western president for half a year in 1979.

Minton has lived around Western his entire life. He learned how to ride a bicycle on the Ogden College campus, he said.

Minton has known he wanted to be involved with law since he was very young.

“It’s just a part of who I am,” he said.

Minton’s childhood friends, such as real estate lawyer Kevin Brooks, shake their heads and chuckle when they think of him becoming a justice.

“They have a hard time squaring running for public office with me,” Minton said.

Brooks met Minton in the eighth grade. Later in life, Brooks would work beside and against Minton as a lawyer and presented cases to Minton when he became circuit judge.

“I don’t think I ever knew a circuit judge who was more respected,” Brooks said.

When it was time for Minton to go to college, he chose the university that was literally close to home.

Minton majored in history and English while at Western to develop his thinking and writing skills for becoming a lawyer, he said. He was also a member of the maintenance crews that painted Potter Hall when it was still a dorm.

But Minton wasn’t physically inclined for a painter’s life.

“My supervisor saw no future for a left-handed painter,” Minton said.

He went to the University of Kentucky’s College of Law after graduating Western.

Returning to Bowling Green, Minton started working for the law firm Cole, Harned & Broderick.

Minton was introduced to his wife Susan by the senior partner’s wife, Kay Cole, he said.

Minton said he’s been fortunate to work in civil law. Becoming a judge has been fulfilling, at the cost of giving up the higher salary of a lawyer, Minton said.

The job does give Minton a chance to plan his day the way he wants it, something he didn’t get to do as a lawyer.

“When you’re a judge, at least you are keeper of the calendar,” Minton said.