Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorneys

Amanda Naish is from Versailles, Kentucky. She graduated from Transylvania University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. She earned her law degree from the University of Kentucky College of Law. She worked as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney from 1998-2003 and returned to the office as an Assistant in 2012. In October, 2022, she was appointed First Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney. She tried the first labor human trafficking case in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and was awarded the Bakita Liberation Award for her work in that case. She co-chairs the Lexington Human Trafficking Taskforce. She is a member of the office’s Special Victim’s Unit where she specializes in the prosecution of human trafficking, child sexual abuse and child strangulation cases.

Traci Caneer is a native of Lexington, Kentucky. She graduated from Lexington Catholic High School, the University of Kentucky with a degree in Communications, and the University of Kentucky College of Law. She has been a prosecutor since January 1997 and has developed a specialty in investigating and prosecuting crimes against the elderly. In 2000, she helped create the Elder Abuse Task Force, the first multi-disciplinary team in the state to focus on collaborative efforts to prosecute the abuse, neglect and exploitation of vulnerable adults. She has continued to chair the Elder Abuse Task Force for almost 25 years since its inception.

Brad Bryant is from Louisville, Kentucky. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics at Centre College and his law degree from the University of Kentucky College of Law. Brad joined the Fayette Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office in October of 2003 and his focus is on the investigation and prosecution of crimes involving firearms.

Kathryn Webster is from Lebanon, Kentucky. She graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in Political Science and received her law degree from Salmon P. Chase College of Law. Katie became familiar with the Fayette Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office as a victim and witness to a crime, and she joined the staff as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney in October 2011. She focuses on the prosecution of crimes involving domestic violence. Katie was elected to the Board of Directors for Ampersand Sexual Violence Resource Center of the Bluegrass.

James P. Judge joined this office in 2020. James specializes in prosecuting domestic violence and strangulation cases. Prior to joining this office, James was with the Attorney General’s Office in the Criminal Appeals Unit.

Andrew Gillespie is originally from Roanoke, VA. He graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and went on to earn his Law Degree from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 2020. Andrew first joined the Fayette Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office in the summer of 2019 as an intern and continued working for the office as a law clerk while earning his Law Degree. Andrew joined the office as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney in 2020.

Mike Malone is from East Cleveland, Ohio and a veteran of the United States Coast Guard. He graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1975 and the University of Kentucky College of Law in 1978. Mike worked as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney from 1978 until his retirement in 2006. Mike later returned to the office as the Commonwealth’s Detective and recently rejoined as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney.

Mary Tobin is from Lexington, Kentucky. She graduated from Lipscomb University with a B.S. in Psychology. She earned her J.D. from St. Thomas University School of Law in Miami, Florida. After returning to Lexington, she joined the Fayette County Attorney’s Office criminal prosecution division in 2019. Mary joined the office as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney in 2022. When not working, Mary is outside hiking and spending time with her family.

Jennifer O’Donnell is originally from the Chicago suburbs, earned a Bachelors in English Literature and Masters in Teaching at Miami University in Oxford, OH. She pursued her JD at Northern Illinois University and later received an LLM from Aberdeen University in Scotland. Jennifer began her legal career as an Assistant with the Coles County, Illinois State’s Attorney’s Office; she also interned on a defense team at the ICTY in The Hague. Now, after years of serving as General Counsel for a corporation and working in the thoroughbred horse industry, which brought her to Lexington, she has returned to prosecution as an Assistant at the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.

Nikolas Fegenbush is originally from Danville, Kentucky. He graduated from Transylvania University with a Bachelor of Arts in History, then earned his law degree from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 2003. Nik started prosecuting as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney in the 21st Judicial Circuit following law school, and then served 16 years as First Assistant Montgomery County Attorney. He joined the Office of the Fayette Commonwealth’s Attorney in 2023.

Amanda O. Montgomery is from Danville, Kentucky. She graduated from the University of Louisville with a Bachelor of Arts in History and went on to earn her J.D. from the University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law in 2023. Amanda joined the office as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney in 2023.

Blair Johnson Stevens is from Belfry, KY. She graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Psychology and went on to earn her Law Degree from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 2023. Blair first joined the Fayette Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office in the summer of 2021 as an intern. While earning her Law Degree, she also worked for the Kentucky Office of the Attorney General under the Special Prosecutions Unit. Blair is published in Kentucky Law Journal Volume 111 for her work on the status of criminal liability for minor victims of human trafficking. Blair joined the office as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney in 2024 and is a member of the office’s Special Victim’s Unit.

Mackenzie Collins is originally from London, Kentucky. She graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and went on to earn her J.D. from Northern Kentucky University Salmon P. Chase College of Law in 2023. Following law school, Mackenzie worked for the Fayette County Attorney’s Office-Child Support division. Mackenzie joined the office as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney in 2024.

Kaitlyn Miller is originally from Hazard, KY. She graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and went on to earn her J.D. from Northern Kentucky University Salmon P. Chase College of Law in 2023. Kaitlyn joined the office as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney in 2024.

Jessica Hutchings is from Kansas City, Kansas. She graduated from Kansas State University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a minor in Political Science and Leadership and went on to earn her J.D. from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 2024. She first joined the Fayette Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office in the fall of 2023 as an extern and continued working for the office as a law clerk while completing her law degree.