January 2021 News Releases

	01/29/2021 State judicial administrator to retire April 16 TOPEKA—Nancy Dixon, who has served as judicial administrator under the Kansas Supreme Court since 2011, announced today she will retire April 16.The judicial administrator is the state’s highest ranking nonjudicial employee in the Kansas judicial branch with significant responsibilities carrying out the Supreme Court’s directions ...
	01/27/2021 Chief Justice Marla Luckert delivers State of the Judiciary address by video TOPEKA—Chief Justice Marla Luckert today delivered her State of the Judiciary address by video and provided a more detailed 2021 State of the Judiciary to the governor, the chairs of the House and Senate judiciary committees, and all members of the Kansas Legislature.In other years, the chief justice has formally addressed a joint session of ...
	01/26/2021 Chief justice issues order continuing suspension of time standards, deadlines TOPEKA—Chief Justice Marla Luckert issued a new administrative order today continuing to suspend statutes of limitation, statutory time standards, deadlines, and time limitations started under earlier orders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.Luckert's action to issue Administrative Order 2021-PR-009 follows the Legislature ...
	01/22/2021 Jason Cohorst selected for district magistrate judge vacancy in Washington County TOPEKA—The 12th Judicial District Nominating Commission has selected Jason Cohorst of Hanover to fill a district magistrate judge vacancy in Washington County.The commission conducted public interviews of nominees by videoconference January 22.Cohorst's new position will be effective on his swearing in. He is a probation officer in ...
	01/22/2021 25th Judicial District Nominating Commission seeks nominees for Finney County judge vacancy TOPEKA—The 25th Judicial District Nominating Commission is seeking nominations to fill a district judge vacancy in Finney County created by Judge Ricklin Pierce's January 13 retirement.The 25th Judicial District is composed of Finney, Greeley, Hamilton, Kearny, Scott, and Wichita counties.Justice Dan Biles, the Supreme Court departmental ...
	01/21/2021 Dickinson County District Court offices to close for temporary relocation TOPEKA—Dickinson County District Court offices will be closed Monday, February 1, through Wednesday, February 3, while they are moved to a temporary location to allow for the renovation of the Dickinson County Courthouse.During the three-day closure, court staff can be contacted at dkcdc@8thjd.com, but they will have limited access to process ...
	01/20/2021 District Magistrate Judge Shelley Selfridge of Lane County retired January 11 TOPEKA—District Magistrate Judge Shelley Selfridge retired January 11 after serving 24 years in Lane County.Selfridge was elected judge in 1996. Lane County is part of the 24th Judicial District, which also is composed of Edwards, Hodgeman, Lane, Ness, Pawnee, and Rush counties.Selfridge had been a secretary for the Lane County attorney for ...
	01/19/2021 District Magistrate Judge Vernon Butt of Stanton County retired January 11 TOPEKA— District Magistrate Judge Vernon Butt of Stanton County retired January 11 after 16 years of service.Butt was elected judge in 2004. Stanton County is part of the 26th Judicial District, which also is composed of Grant, Haskell, Morton, Seward, and Stevens counties.When the previous magistrate judge announced she was retiring ...
	01/18/2021 Chief justice closes Kansas Judicial Center Tuesday and Wednesday TOPEKA—Chief Justice Marla Luckert announced that the Kansas Judicial Center will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday, January 19 and January 20, consistent with actions taken by the governor to close buildings in the Capitol Complex used by the executive branch of state government. “This action is to ensure the safety and wellbeing of ...
	01/15/2021 Supreme Court accepting public comment on rule amendments affecting Kansas Lawyers Assistance Program TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court is accepting public comment on amendments to a rule governing the Kansas Lawyers Assistance Program.Comments may be made by email to scrulespubliccomment@kscourts.org until noon February 15. The subject line must read “Rule 233.”The proposed amendments to Rule 233: Kansas Lawyers Assistance Program ...
	01/15/2021 12th Judicial District Nominating Commission announces interview schedule for magistrate judge vacancy TOPEKA—The 12th Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene by videoconference January 22 to interview nominees to fill a district magistrate judge vacancy in Washington County created by Judge Paul Monty's January 11 retirement.The 12th Judicial District is composed of Cloud, Jewell, Lincoln, Mitchell, Republic, and Washington ...
	01/13/2021 Ellen Neufeld selected for district magistrate judge vacancy in McPherson County TOPEKA—The 9th Judicial District Nominating Commission has selected Ellen Neufeld to fill a district magistrate judge vacancy in McPherson County.The commission conducted public interviews of nominees by videoconference January 12.Neufeld's new position will be effective on her swearing in. She is an Inman attorney.The 9th Judicial ...
	01/11/2021 District Magistrate Judge Paul Monty to retire after 14 years of service TOPEKA—District Magistrate Judge Paul Monty will retire January 11 after serving 14 years in Washington County.He was appointed judge in the 12th Judicial District in 2007. He had been a private practice lawyer in Washington, Kansas, for 38 years.The 12th Judicial District also is composed of Cloud, Jewell, Lincoln, Mitchell, and Republic ...
	01/08/2021 Chief justice continues suspension of deadlines, time limitations TOPEKA—Chief Justice Marla Luckert issued a new administrative order today continuing to suspend statutes of limitation, statutory time standards, deadlines, and time limitations started under earlier orders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.Luckert's action to issue Administrative Order 2021-PR-001 follows the State Finance ...
	01/07/2021 District Judge Timothy Chambers of Reno County to retire TOPEKA—District Judge Timothy Chambers will retire January 11 after serving in the 27th Judicial District since 2001.Chambers was elected judge in the 27th Judicial District, which is composed of Reno County, after serving as county attorney and then district attorney. He has overseen both civil and criminal cases and has been appointed to ...
	01/07/2021 Supreme Court appoints new member to Kansas Board of Law Examiners TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court appointed Judge David Bruns to complete an unexpired term on the Kansas Board of Law Examiners.Bruns has served on the Kansas Court of Appeals since 2011. He succeeds Melissa Taylor Standridge, who was appointed a Kansas Supreme Court justice in November. Standridge previously was a Court of Appeals judge.Bruns ...
	01/04/2021 Chief Justice Marla Luckert will deliver State of the Judiciary address by video TOPEKA—Chief Justice Marla Luckert today announced she will deliver the State of the Judiciary address by video to protect the safety and well-being of members of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.A video of the annual address will be released the morning of Wednesday, January 27.“Delivering my address by video allows ...