Taylor J. Wine appointed chief judge of 4th Judicial District

TOPEKA — Chief Justice Lawton R. Nuss announced today the Supreme Court has appointed Judge Taylor J. Wine as chief judge of the 4th Judicial District, effective through December 31, 2019.

Wine was appointed a district judge in January to succeed Judge Phillip Fromme, who retired. Fromme had served as chief judge of the 4th Judicial District, composed of Anderson, Coffey, Franklin, and Osage counties, since 2003.

"Judge Wine was a very capable leader in the Kansas District Magistrate Judges Association. The Supreme Court looks forward to his bringing that same leadership ability to the position of chief judge of the 4th Judicial District," said Nuss.

Wine received the Lee Nusser Award for Outstanding Magistrate Judge of 2017 from KDMJA. He served several terms as first vice president of the organization.

"I am honored the members of the Supreme Court entrusted me with this role. Serving as a judge in our district for the last six years has been a rewarding experience. I look forward to continuing to serve the residents of the 4th Judicial District alongside our other judges and employees. We intend to provide the litigants in our courts the fairness and dignity they deserve," Wine said.

Wine served as a district magistrate judge in Osage County from 2011 until his appointment as district judge.

A native of Madison in Greenwood County, he earned a law degree from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law after graduating from Pittsburg State University.

He was in private practice until being appointed to the bench as a magistrate.

Each of Kansas' 31 judicial districts has a chief judge who, in addition to his or her judicial responsibilities, has general control over case assignments within the district, as well as general supervisory authority over the administrative and clerical functions of the court.