Chief judge of the 12th Judicial District appointed to Kansas Judicial Council

TOPEKA—Chief Justice Lawton Nuss of the Kansas Supreme Court appointed Chief Judge Kim Cudney to a vacancy on the Kansas Judicial Council.

Her term on the judicial council will expire June 30, 2021. 

Cudney, of Washington, Kansas, is chief judge of the 12th Judicial District, composed of Cloud, Jewell, Lincoln, Mitchell, Republic, and Washington counties. 

She succeeds retired District Judge Maritza Segarra, Junction City. Segarra served in Geary County of the 8th Judicial District.

"The court is honored to have someone with Judge Cudney’s experience, qualifications, and outstanding reputation agree to serve on the council," Nuss said. 

Cudney is a native of Washington County and graduated from Kansas State University and Washburn University School of Law. She served as a research attorney for the Kansas Supreme Court and the U.S. District Court. She had a private law practice in Washington, Kansas, where she also served as county attorney, before becoming district judge and chief judge in the 12th Judicial District in 2006.

The judicial council reviews the administration of justice in Kansas. It can recommend to the Supreme Court or the Kansas Legislature changes regarding specific areas of the law or rules used by the courts. The council also can be asked to draft legislation and court rules. The council produces books and manuals, publishes legal forms for use in the state's courts, and drafts pattern jury instructions.

The 10-member council includes one member of the Kansas Supreme Court, one member of the Kansas Court of Appeals, two district court judges, and four practicing attorneys, all appointed by the chief justice. The chairs of the Kansas House and Kansas Senate judiciary committees also are members.

Supreme Court Justice Marla Luckert chairs the council. Other members are: 

• Judge Stephen Hill, Kansas Court of Appeals, Topeka.

• Joseph Jeter, Hays.

• Chief Judge Mike Keeley, Great Bend, of the 20th Judicial District, composed of Barton, Ellsworth, Rice, Russell, and Stafford counties.

• Rep. Fred Patton, Topeka.

• F. James Robinson Jr., Wichita.

• Stephen Robison, Wichita.

• Sarah Bootes Shattuck, Ashland.

• Sen. Rick Wilborn, McPherson.