Supreme Court certifies new judge positions

TOPEKA—The Supreme Court today certified vacancies to Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh for new district court judge positions in Shawnee and Miami Counties.

The 2006 Legislature authorized funding for the two new judgeships, but did not include funding for support staff. The Supreme Court is designated by statute as the entity that decides where new judiciary positions are to be located.

Chief Justice Kay McFarland said in today's order that Shawnee County has the highest caseload per judge in civil and criminal cases in the state. Last year, Shawnee County also had the highest caseload per judge-390 cases-more than the next highest district, and 1,250 more than the statewide average.

The Sixth Judicial District, which includes Miami, Linn, and Bourbon Counties, experienced an increase of 153 percent in major case filings over the last 10 years. "During that period, it is the only district with an increase of over 100 percent, the next highest being 80 percent," today's order states.

Each of the district judge positions certified in the order have been recommended by the chief judge of the judicial district in which the division is to be located and by the Office of Judicial Administration.