Former Kentucky Supreme Court Justice William McAnulty died Thursday night after fighting lung cancer that had spread to his brain.

McAnulty, 59, was the first African-American to serve on Kentucky’s Supreme Court, representing Jefferson County. Gov. Ernie Fletcher appointed McAnulty to fill a vacancy created when Justice Martin Johnstone retired in June 2006, and then he was elected to the high court the following November. McAnulty resigned his position earlier this month, and during his 30-plus year career, had served at every level of the state court system.