Sedgwick County judge appointed to sit with Kansas Supreme Court

TOPEKA — District Judge John Kisner Jr. of the 18th Judicial District has been appointed to sit with the Kansas Supreme Court to hear oral arguments in one case on the court's October 25 docket. After hearing oral arguments, Kisner will join Supreme Court justices in their deliberations and decision drafting.

“I am pleased that Judge Kisner is taking time from his duties in the 18th Judicial District to sit with the Supreme Court,” said Chief Justice Lawton Nuss. “It's a great help to our court, and we look forward to his contributions deliberating this case.”

Kisner said, “It is an honor to be asked to sit with the Supreme Court. I look forward to working with the justices and believe the experience will be of benefit to me as a trial court judge.”

Kisner was appointed to fill a judge vacancy in the 18th Judicial District, which is composed of Sedgwick County, in July 2003 and has since been elected and re-elected by voters. He is assigned to the criminal division. Kisner previously served as presiding judge of the criminal division and as judge for the drug court program. He earned a bachelor's degree from Wichita State University and a law degree from Washburn University School of Law. Before being appointed to the bench, he was special counsel for the Kansas Corporation Commission and assistant district attorney and then deputy district attorney for the 18th Judicial District.

All Supreme Court oral arguments are webcast live through the Watch Supreme Court Live! Link in the right-hand column of the Kansas Judicial Branch website at www.kscourts.org.

The case Kisner will hear is the fourth one scheduled on the Supreme Court's 9 a.m. docket Wednesday, October 25.

Appeal No. 117,607: In re Matthew B. Works, Respondent

Original Proceeding Related to Attorney Discipline: (Two-year suspension) In two separate cases, Works failed to file a docketing statement and the cases languished in the court system for two years before one was dismissed and new counsel was appointed in the other. The hearing panel concluded that Works should be suspended from the practice of law for two years should he fail to successfully complete a three-year probation plan. The disciplinary administrator recommended that Works be placed on probation subject to the terms and conditions of the proposed plan, with an underlying period of suspension of 18 months to two years. Works requested that he be allowed to continue to practice subject to the terms and conditions of the probation plan.